Vienna, March 2020:
The FFG research project Winterlife aims at developing effective, sustainable and non-aggressive de-icing agents for winter maintenance with TU Vienna for OEBB and BMVIT thus minimizing damage due to frost and de-icing salt on the railway infrastructure
Project title
Winter maintenance with effective, sustainable and non-aggressive de-icing agents as well as optimal LIFE cycle costs for the rail infrastructure
Customer
FFG/BMVIT and OEBB
Type
Research project (FFG-Call VIF2018)
Duration
September 2019 to August 2021
Partner/Role
Vienna University of Technology Institutes of Transportation & Material Chemistry with Tender development and scientific/project management
Project goals
WINTERLIFE aims to develop and use tested, environmentally compatible and non-aggressive de-icing agents for a more effective and sustainable winter maintenance.
CRITERIA #1 - Harmless to humans / animals / plants
CRITERIA #2 - Minimal damage to transport infrastructure (steel, concrete)
CRITERIA #3 - Equivalent thawing capacity compared to Sodium Chloride
CRITERIA #4 - Lowest possible application rates
CRITERIA #5 - Simple handling and spreading
CRITERIA #6 - Low costs and good availability on the market
Timetable
The project is carried out according to the following schedule within 6 work packages
Results
Based on the previous winter maintenance research by the contractors, corresponding results are expected by August 2021, which, however, can only be published after the project has been completed and the clients have given approval.