When Sugar Beets are More than Just Food

The typical materials used to remove snow and ice from roadways are salt, calcium chloride, other chemical additives, and the addition of abrasives such as sand, coarse grit, slag, cinders, and bottom ash (from power plants). With the melting point of ice being 32 degrees Fahrenheit and water freezing into ice at 32 degrees or lower, salt lowers the freezing point of water to -60 degrees, while calcium chloride takes the freezing point to -67 degrees. Unfortunately, the use of salt can damage cement, metal grating, bridges, other structures and vehicles and gradually weakens or destroys the structural integrity of most materials.