Cost and Performance Report: Demonstration of an Environmentally Benign and Reduced Corrosion Runway Deicing Fluid

This report summarizes the findings from a full-scale side-by-side demonstration of Battelle Runway Deicing Fluid (RDF) versus conventional potassium-acetate (KAc) based RDF. The tests were conducted on a closed section of the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base runway using full-scale fluid application trailers. Anti-icing and deicing performance was based on runway friction rating, a measure of surface slipperiness, and holdover time. The two Battelle fluids tested met all acceptance criteria including lower aquatic toxicity (acute and chronic), similar oxygen demand, lower corrosion of aircraft components (cadmium-plated parts and carboncarbon brake pads), and comparable runway friction and holdover times. A life-cycle cost analysis indicated that Battelle-RDFs were more cost effective than KAc-RDFs due to lower fluid cost and lower maintenance costs due to reduced metal corrosion and braking system damage.