Untitled Document

ITD explains winter maintenance processes
to South Korean delegation

Ron Wright, chemist supervisor, recently met with a delegation from the South Korea Expressway Corporation in Coeur d’Alene to discuss corrosion inhibited deicer chemicals, winter maintenance programs and corrosion issues to the highway infrastructure.

Ji Youn Ryu, managing director of Structure Division Team, led the South Korean delegation. He was accompanied by Jae Hyeong Kim, director of Structure Management Team; Jin Woung Kim, senior manager of Structure Management Team; Myung Seok Lee, senior manger of General Disaster Management Team; and Byung Duk Lee, chief researcher for Materials and Environmental Team.

The Korean group is building the new Incheon Bridge structures and is extremely concerned about the aspects of corrosion from the use of straight salt.

They have researched the specifications and activities of the Pacific Northwest Snowfighters (PNS), a consortium of states and provinces committed to using the best corrosion inhibited chemical de-icing products for winter maintenance. PNS’s experience with straight salt corrosion to steel and concrete led them to ITD’s Wright, who is recognized as one of the leading experts in the field of chemical deicer technology. He writes all of the chemical specifications and maintains the Qualified Product List for the PNS.

The meeting addressed the effectiveness of corrosion inhibitors on vehicular and structural steel, and other metals such as galvanized steel, aluminum and copper. Discussions centered on the use of corrosion-inhibited liquid salts, such as magnesium, calcium and sodium chloride.

Wright presented information about the use of liquid chemicals as anti-icing (applied prior to storm events) and pre-wetting (applied to antiskid) agents to maintain roadway friction.

Greg Munden, a District 1 maintenance foreman, provided firsthand operational information about the use, chemical roadway longevity, effectiveness, and reduction in corrosion related to use of corrosion inhibited liquid chemical applications.

The Korean structural engineers also investigated the types of bridge deck overlays and rebar Idaho uses in construction. They use latex modified concrete and uncoated rebar. While the latex modified concretes work well, they still had issues with the uncoated rebar.

Wright explained that Idaho uses latex-modified or silica-fume overlays and epoxy-coated rebar.

The meeting concluded with a tour of the district’s maintenance yard where visitors were able to inspect ITD’s winter maintenance equipment.

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Photos: Visiting South Koreans posed with ITD employees in front of a District 1 de-icing truck (top); a representative of the deletgation exchanged gifts with chemist supervisor Ron Wright (below).