Environmentally Benign Aircraft Anti-icing and Deicing Fluids Based on Cost Effective, Bio-based Ingredients

• Main Authors: Chauhan, S P, Roshon, M S, Samuels, W D, Berman, E S
• Other Authors: BATTELLE MEMORIAL INST COLUMBUS OH
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2012
• Subjects: Snow; Ice and Permafrost; *DEICING SYSTEMS; AIRCRAFT; BIODETERIORATION; ENVIRONMENTAL TESTS; FLUIDS; SERDP COLLECTION; SERDP(STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM); AIRCRAFT DEICING FLUID; AIRCRAFT ANTI-ICING FLUID; DEICING FLUID; ANTI-ICING FLUID; BIODEGRADABLE; BIO-BASED; FREEZING POINT DEPRESSANTS; BIOLOGICAL OXYGEN DEMAND; Ice; permafrost
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA572809; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA572809

By substituting several components to bio-based, more biodegradable, and less toxic ingredients, anti-icing fluids (AAFs) that are more environmentally friendly were achieved. Development of these fluids focused on the replacement of alkylphenol ethoxylate (APE) surfactants that are toxic, replacement of triazole corrosion inhibitors which are toxic and non-biodegradable, and replacement of non-biodegradable anti-precipitant. All three newly developed AAFs are free of APE surfactants and triazole compounds, contain a biodegradable anti-precipitant without a loss in performance, and are cheaper than currently used AAFs. These more environmentally-friendly ingredients had additional benefits such as a 50% reduction in ecotoxicity, the removal of an anti-foamer as the new surfactants were low foaming, a low gel forming potential, and performance that exceeded generic propylene glycol (PG)-based fluids currently on the market. Not only do these fluids provide excellent anti-icing, and enhanced environmental performance, they also perform similar or better to current commercial fluids in specialized DoD materials testing. The original document contains color images.