Anybody use "Magic Salt"?

[tulenutn2o]

Why use anything at all? Deal with the ice or move to a warmer climate. I have seen what salt can do to a vehicle in Michigan and it isn't worth it to me. IMO.

But salt doesn't do any damage........... it is just a catalyst. In the end, it is still damage.

 

[Duffster]

So I have this 4x4 chunk of pine in the garage. Is it giving off heat now? Technically, burning wood is an exothermic reaction. Give it up guys! Even my one source listed earlier (Portland Cement Association) said that there are conflicting studies.

Is that source the be all end all? It even said sodium had little or no effect on concrete.

 

[Duffster]

Why use anything at all?

Because commerce comes to a halt and people die when you don't.

 

[Sumpter]

Because commerce comes to a halt and people die when you don't.

All because of salt? Being out West must have made me less intelligent.

 

[Duffster]

All because of salt? Being out West must have made me less intelligent.

Yes.

When salt got short a few years ago the county quit spreading with disastrous results. I witnessed an accident where a young gal lost her life needlessly because of slick roads. We just do not have the climate here to get away from the use of deicer.

 

[Lt CHEG]

Technically wood doesn't burn either, but is universally understood that it does put off heat.

Wood most certainly does burn. Wood undergoes a phenomenon called "pyrolysis". When heated the solid wood begins to gassify, this gas then ignites when its flash point temperature is met in the presence of sufficient oxygen, with a sustaining chemical reaction. Most solids don't burn by the way, most require that they be vaporized in order to ignite.

 

[Mace Canute]

If winter weather hovered right around 0 C going just a bit above and then a bit below, you would see the same damage to concrete as you get when you lower the melting point by using salt such that it also goes through the same melt/freeze cycles but at a lower temperature. Using salt might increase the times concrete sees melt/freeze cycles to dozens of times instead of just a couple. The more cycles, the more damage.

 

[SPYDERLK]

Using salt might increase the times concrete sees melt/freeze cycles to dozens of times instead of just a couple. The more cycles, the more damage.

Good surmise.
larry