Performance of anti-icing stone mastic asphalt: laboratory and field investigation

Anti-icing asphalt pavements can delay surface icing by reducing the freezing point to a certain degree. This study conducted the laboratory and field investigation to compare the anti-icing effectiveness and mechanical performance of two anti-icing stone mastic asphalt (SMA). Two types of anti-icing modifiers (e.g. LX II and MFL) were used in SMA respectively. The electrical conductivity test, ice melting test, and outdoor snow melting test were conducted on fresh and aged LX II SMA and MFL SMA, respectively, to evaluate the anti-icing effectiveness. The effect of anti-icing additives on high-temperature stability, low-temperature cracking resistance, and water stability of SMA were also analyzed. Two in-situ pavements were constructed using LX II SMA and MFL SMA. The anti-icing effectiveness of LX II and MFL pavement were compared by the observation of ice formation and snow accumulation on pavement surface on snowy days. The results showed that after long-term aging of anti-icing SMA, the chloride in LX II and MFL was more easily released. Two anti-icing additives had no significant effect on the water stability of SMA, and only slightly reduced high-temperature stability and low-temperature cracking resistance. LX II presented better anti-icing performance than MFL in both laboratory and field conditions.