Gritting the roads prevents ice from forming on the roads, reducing the danger it causes for cars and pedestrians. 

In this blog, we are going to discuss the science behind gritting and how it works. As well as exploring the most effective way of carrying out gritting. 

When the temperature drops below freezing, rain or snow can freeze onto the road surface making it slippery and dangerous. So by using salt spread over a road surface, we can reduce the risks it causes, so let’s discover the science behind it…

The Science Of Gritting

Using salt isn’t as complicated as you might expect.

Gritting involves making sure salt or other de-icing materials are spread evenly over the surface of the road. The salt helps to lower the freezing point of water, so it can be kept in liquid form on roads and pavements.

Reducing the freezing point of the water, prevents ice from forming, helping to ensure that roads remain safe for cars and pedestrians.

Gritting can be done after a heavy snowfall, however, carrying it out prior to snowfall prevents the dangers it causes. The most commonly used de-icing material is rock salt.

The Most Effective Way To Grit

Salt should be distributed across a road evenly across its surface.

This means that gritting vehicles have devices which are able to spread the material over a wide area. The device takes into account the wind speed and direction, as well as temperature, to ensure that the salt is distributed efficiently.

Gritting also requires regular maintenance in order to keep the roads safe. It is important to keep an eye on the weather conditions, as well as make sure that salt bins are regularly refilled. This means that gritters can be sent out at short notice if necessary.

As well as using liquid brine, which is much more efficient as it remains a liquid even in below-freezing temperatures. This allows the brine to penetrate deeper into snow and ice, eventually reaching all the way down to the road’s surface.

The brine then dispenses beneath the ice, consequently breaking the bond between its surface and the frozen layer. The remaining snow and ice float to the top of this liquid brine, enabling quicker thawing to clear the snow and ice on the road.

So to sum it up, gritting is an essential process for keeping our roads safe during the winter months. By understanding how it works and making sure that it is done correctly, we can ensure that roads remain free from danger!

If you need help gritting your premises in the winter, we would be happy to help, so get in touch today to find out more!