Effect of hydrophobization of airfield coatings on the consumption of deicing reagents2

Abstract

The issue of reducing costs for the maintenance of airfield coatings is particularly important nowadays due to the increase in the intensity of domestic air transportation. A significant part of the costs of the operational maintenance of airfields is spent on the purchase of deicing reagents (DIR) used to protect airfield pavements from icing. There is a possibility to reduce the required amount DIR by using of hydrophobizing impregnations (HPI) for cement concrete airfield pavements. The assumption about possibility to reduce costs for DIR by using HPI was proven by laboratory tests on specimens of cement concrete slabs. In the course of laboratory tests the process of airfield pavement icing and de-icing was modeled. According to the results of experimental studies it was determined that the consumption of DIR for cement concrete slabs specimens treated with HPI was reduced by 35% compared to similar specimens without HPI treatment. For the economic evaluation of cost reduction for the purchase of DIRs, the costs of applied DIRs used at civil airfields of the Russian Federation were analyzed, taking into account their location in different climatic zones. The assessment has revealed that the cost savings for the purchase of DIRs can be up to 29.1 %.