What are the hazards of snow-melting agents to vehicles?
2 Answers
Snow-melting agents can cause severe corrosion to the metal parts of the vehicle body, significantly corrode the car chassis, and reduce the service life of car tires. Composition of snow-melting agents: Snow-melting agents refer to chemicals that can lower the melting temperature of ice and snow. Common snow-melting agents are easily accessible and inexpensive, mainly composed of potassium acetate and chloride salts, which are used for classification based on these two components. Function of snow-melting agents: Snow-melting agents melt snow on roads by lowering the melting temperature of ice and snow, facilitating road clearance. Their application shows immediate effects, but they are hazardous. Research has found that residues from snow-melting agents can corrode road surfaces and the rubber tires of vehicles. In northern regions, sand and snowplows are primarily used during long winters, with snow-melting agents as a supplementary method to remove ice and snow from roads, ensuring smooth traffic flow.
I've been driving for twenty years, and de-icing agents are really damaging to cars. Those white particles spread on the roads in winter are mainly composed of salt, which can corrode the chassis when they stick to the car. Over time, the chassis can rust through. What's even more annoying is that it can get into the braking system, causing the brake discs to rust and fail. After snow, the wheels are always covered with de-icing agents, and the surface of aluminum alloy wheels can develop white spots from corrosion. The car paint also suffers—the front bumper often gets splashed with saltwater, and over time, the paint surface looks like it's covered in pockmarks. I've developed a habit of washing my car immediately after the snow stops, focusing on spraying the chassis gaps with a high-pressure water gun. If the budget allows, applying an undercoating can protect the chassis for three to five years.
