20 Jan Treating Sand with Liquid Calcium Chloride: A Reliable, Efficient Salt Alternative for Winter Operations
Salt shortages have become a recurring issue in winter maintenance planning. Municipalities, DOTs, commercial contractors and industrial property owners rely heavily on rock salt for deicing, yet unpredictable supply chains and rising seasonal demand leave many scrambling for alternatives. When salt availability declines or salt prices spike, calcium chloride is a proven alternative, particularly when used to treat sand.
Sand can be used as a supplemental or primary traction material, but untreated sand comes with its own challenges: blow-off under traffic, poor longevity on road surfaces, freezing in stockpiles, and limited effectiveness in extreme cold. Treating sand with liquid calcium chloride solves these challenges and is a method that dramatically improves performance, storage characteristics and traction reliability.
Salt: The Standard That Isn’t Always There
Rock salt has traditionally served as the backbone of winter deicing in North America. It’s widely available, relatively inexpensive and effective within a useful temperature range. But, as highway and street departments and contractors know all too well, its supply chain is vulnerable to variables like:
- Mining output fluctuations
- Transportation and logistics delays
- Port and rail congestion
- Weather-related usage spikes
- Procurement contract limitations
- Global chemical markets
During heavy winters, salt allocation may prioritize specific regions or industries, leaving others to adjust mid-season.
Sand: The Default Backup Material
Sand does not melt ice; instead, it restores traction. It is a beneficial tool due to its low cost, wide availability and compatibility with any temperature. Sand, however, only provides temporary traction and is easily displaced by traffic, wind or plowing. Untreated sand often ends up in ditches and storm drains, creating cleanup costs and environmental concerns in the spring.
The problem lies in its performance under real-world conditions. Without modification, sand:
- Scatters or blows off surfaces
- Requires frequent reapplication
- Freezes into unusable piles
- Loses effectiveness quickly under plow traffic
During salt shortages, these weaknesses become costly—both in labor hours and outcomes on pavements.
The Role of Liquid Calcium Chloride
Calcium chloride (CaCl₂) is hygroscopic, meaning it attracts and retains moisture. This unique property gives it performance advantages in winter conditions where evaporation, sublimation, and freezing are constant threats. Key attributes include:
- Moisture retention – Due to calcium chloride’s hygroscopic properties, it continues working even when conditions are dry.
- Fast-acting – Calcium chloride penetrates ice more quickly than salt, reducing the bonding between ice and pavement.
- Low temperature performance – Calcium chloride is effective at temperatures as low as -25°F, far outperforming rock salt’s temperature limits
- Exothermic reaction – When calcium chloride dissolves, it releases heat, which helps jump-start ice melting even on very cold pavement.
While calcium chloride is also capable of melting ice, in sand treatment its greater contribution is mechanical advantage via improved adhesion, longevity, and spreadability.
How Sand Treated with Calcium Chloride Works in Practice
When sand is treated with liquid calcium chloride, several operational improvements occur:
- Treated sand remains on the surface longer, even under traffic and snowplow passes. The calcium chloride acts as a binder, reducing scatter and blow-off. Traction improves more quickly and lasts longer.
- Freeze Resistant Stockpile Storage – One of the most frustrating winter maintenance problems is dealing with frozen or clumped sand piles. Calcium chloride helps prevent freeze bonding and keeps material workable
- Better Flow in Hoppers and Spreaders – Operators spend less time breaking up material or clearing spreader gates. For government agencies with aging fleets, this alone can justify the treatment.
- Application efficiency results in less frequent reapplication which saves labor hours, material usage and machine wear.
Comparative Performance: Treated Sand vs. Untreated Sand vs. Rock Salt
Untreated Sand
Function: Traction only
Pros: Cheap, available anywhere
Cons: Minimal longevity, freeze problems, high labor demand
Rock Salt
Function: Melting + traction
Pros: Familiar, effective in moderate cold
Cons: Limited supply, price volatility, temperature limitations (~15–20°F)
Treated Sand with Calcium Chloride
Function: Traction + freeze resistance + adhesion
Pros: Cost-stable, works in extreme cold, reduces waste, extends surface time
Cons: Requires treatment planning (though some vendors pre-treat stockpiles)
For regions that routinely experience subzero temperatures, treated sand often outperforms rock salt simply because traction remains essential even when melting slows or stops.
Best Practices for Treating Sand with Calcium Chloride
Treatment Ratios
Treating ratios vary based on:
- Temperature range
- Sand gradation
- Moisture content
- Desired bonding strength
A typical starting point is 6–10 gallons of liquid calcium chloride per ton of sand, though colder climates may benefit from heavier treatments. Start on the lower end and adjust based on performance and conditions.
Treatment Methods
Operators typically use:
- Pre-treatment in stockpiles: most common for government agencies and municipalities
- In-line spray systems: useful for contractors or mixed-use sites
- On-demand application: flexible for varying storm conditions
Storage & Handling Considerations
Treated piles should be protected from excessive run-off and contamination, ideally under partial cover or in bunkers. Because the calcium chloride helps retain moisture, treated sand remains workable even at deep subzero temperatures.
Use corrosion-resistant equipment where possible. Rinse spreaders and trucks regularly to minimize corrosion.
Additional Benefits of Treating Sand with Calcium Chloride
Cost & Operational Value
A significant advantage of treated sand is its predictable cost curve, especially during salt shortages when salt pricing may double or triple.
Cost benefits arise from:
- Fewer reapplications
- Reduced downtime
- Lower freeze management labor
- Decreased equipment maintenance
- Fewer slip-related liability claims
Street and highway departments can also see improved budget stability because treated sand can be stockpiled pre-season without risk of freezing.
Environmental and Regulatory Considerations
While no winter material is without environmental impact, liquid calcium chloride offers certain advantages:
- Less chloride application compared to heavy salt usage
- Reduced sand runoff (since less material is applied)
- Lower blower scatter into sensitive areas
- Better control on bridges, ramps, and slopes
Regions with stormwater regulations increasingly favor materials that minimize particulate spread—another advantage of treated sand.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can treated sand replace salt entirely?
In many extremely cold regions, traction matters more than melting. Some municipalities already run treated sand as a primary material.
Is sand treated with calcium chloride safe for roads and equipment?
Yes. Calcium chloride is widely used in winter maintenance applications and is compatible with standard road surfaces, spreaders, and plow equipment. It also reduces abrasive scatter and flow issues, which can decrease mechanical wear caused by untreated sand.
How does treated sand perform in extreme cold compared to rock salt?
Rock salt loses melting effectiveness around 15–20°F. Treated sand provides traction regardless of temperature, and calcium chloride remains active well below 0°F. This makes treated sand an excellent solution for northern climates or arctic cold snaps.
How long can treated sand be stored?
Properly treated stockpiles can be stored throughout the winter season without freezing or clumping. Calcium chloride’s moisture retention and anti-caking characteristics help maintain flowability until spring.
Does liquid calcium chloride make sand dusty or muddy?
No. In fact, it reduces dustiness by retaining moisture in the sand. It also prevents freezing, so treated piles do not become muddy slush during thaw cycles.
What kind of sand works best for treatment?
Clean, angular traction sand typically performs best. Finer sands may require lower treatment volumes, while coarser materials may require higher. Your supplier or calcium chloride provider can recommend an optimal sand type based on application method and climate.
Is there an environmental advantage to treated sand?
Yes. Because treated sand stays on the surface longer and resists scatter, significantly less sand is needed to achieve traction. This reduces abrasive runoff into stormwater systems and lowers total seasonal application tonnage.
What temperatures are ideal for treated sand?
Treated sand works across all winter temperatures, including subzero conditions where salt performance declines. It remains a traction solution even when melting action is minimal.
Treating Sand with Calcium Chloride: A Reliable Solution When Salt Falls Short
In a season where salt supply uncertainty can disrupt winter operations, treated sand enhanced with liquid calcium chloride offers a practical, proven and cost-stable solution for maintaining traction and public safety. By improving surface performance, resisting freeze-ups in storage and reducing overall material waste, it gives government agencies and contractors the operational flexibility the need when salt isn’t available – or simply isn’t enough.
If you’re preparing for a potential salt shortage or looking to diversify you winter materials strategy, our team would be happy to help you explore options tailored to your climate, application needs and budget. Contact a Great Lakes Chloride representative to learn more or request pricing. We’d love to help you find the right solution to keep your winter operations moving.