Comparative evaluation of the anti-icing protection time of runway deicers using infrared thermography

This study presents a new method, based on infrared (IR) thermography, to evaluate and compare the anti-icing performance, i.e., the ability to delay the reformation of ice, of runways and taxiways deicing/anti-icing fluids (RDF) under icing precipitation. In summary, the test consists of applying on a standardized concrete pavement sample, a given quantity of a candidate de-icing fluid. Following the application, the concrete sample is submitted to low intensity freezing drizzle simulated in a cold chamber. Thermography picture is taken every 30 s intervals until the concrete becomes completely iced. The measurement of anti-icing performance of different concentrations of propylene glycol (PG) and potassium-formate (KFOR) solutions are shown when assessed using the new IR method at − 5 °C, − 8 °C and − 11 °C.