Magnesium chloride

Magnesium chloride is a salt, consisting of magnesium and chlorine atoms. Its chemical formula is MgCl₂.

Magnesium chloride can be extracted from brine or sea water, and is a commonly used source of magnesium metal, which can be extracted from MgCl₂ using electrolysis.

A number of state highway departments throughout the United States have decreased the use of rock salt and sand on roadways and have increased the use of liquid magnesium chloride as a de-icer or anti-icer. The liquid magnesium chloride is sprayed on dry pavement prior to precipitation or wet pavement prior to freezing temperatures in the winter months to prevent snow and ice from adhering and bonding to the roadway. The application of anti-icers is utilized in an effort to improve highway safety. The use of this product seems to show an improvement in driving conditions during and after freezing precipitation yet it seems to be negatively affecting electric utilities.

Two main issues have been raised regarding the anti-icer magnesium chloride as it relates to electric utilities: contamination of insulators causing tracking and arcing across them, and corrosion of steel and aluminum poles and pole hardware.

External links

• Magnesium Chloride as a De-Icing Agent (http://www.usda.gov/rus/electric/engineering/2001/magnesium_chloride.htm)

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