Electrolyte effects on poly(acrylic acid)-based aircraft de-icing fluids

Poly (acrylic acid) [PAA]-based aircraft de-icing fluids are widely used commercially but are known to be subject to the formation of insoluble gel particles within wing structures. In this study, the rheological effects of the sodium chloride, potassium formate, and calcium acetate with commercially used PAA-based fluids are reported across the temperature range of −15 to 15 °C. Calcium ions have the potential to create gel particles, reflected in the shifts in the viscosity–temperature profile, while PAA aggregation is influenced by the concentrations and compositions of sodium and potassium salts in the water used for dilution. From the data presented, it is possible to create de-icing fluid formulations with the necessary rheological characteristics from stock solutions by dilution using available water sources, providing that the ion concentration is known.