Standards

AASHTO M-143 Sodium Chloride for Highway Use

AASHTO M-143 is the US standard for de-icing sodium chloride used by state DOTs and federal highway agencies. Covers chemical composition (≥96.5% NaCl), gradation (Type 1 Coarse, Type 2 Fine), moisture, anti-caking. Egyptian sea + rock salt available to spec.

AASHTO M-143 — Sodium Chloride for Highway Use

AASHTO M-143 is the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials specification for sodium chloride (NaCl) used as a de-icing agent on roadways. It is the federal-level US complement to ASTM D632 and the procurement reference for most state DOT winter contracts. Egypt Globe Group supplies AASHTO M-143-compliant rock salt from Siwa Oasis and Qattara Depression and sea salt from North Sinai and the Red Sea, each lot verified against the specification by the port laboratory before the Bill of Lading.

Standard at a glance

Clause	Requirement	EGG verification method	Frequency
NaCl content	≥ 96.5 % (dry basis)	Chemical analysis per ASTM C114 (argentometric chloride) at the port laboratory	Every lot, before B/L
Insoluble matter	≤ 2.5 %	Gravimetric water-insolubles	Every lot
Moisture (loss on drying at 110 °C)	≤ 2.0 % (Type 1) / ≤ 3.0 % (Type 2)	Loss on drying at 110 °C; Karl Fischer on request	Every lot; dryer outlet checks during kiln-drying
Anti-caking additive	Optional; sodium ferrocyanide (YPS / E535) ≤ 100 ppm	Dosing record + ferrocyanide assay	Every dosed lot
Gradation Type 1 (Coarse)	12.5 mm 100 % · 9.5 mm 95–100 % · 4.75 mm 20–90 % · 2.36 mm 10–60 % · 600 µm 0–10 % passing	Sieve analysis per ASTM E11	Every lot; per-screen checks during production
Gradation Type 2 (Fine)	9.5 mm 100 % · 4.75 mm 90–100 % · 2.36 mm 50–90 % · 600 µm 5–30 % · 300 µm 0–10 % passing	Sieve analysis per ASTM E11	Every lot
Pre-wetting compatibility	Uniform brine absorption with MgCl₂ 30 %, CaCl₂ 32 % or NaCl 23 % brine	Brine absorption uniformity check on request	Per contract
Sampling	Representative composite of the loaded lot	ASTM C702 / ISO 11648 sampling plan	Every lot; witnessed by TÜV Austria / SGS / Intertek when contracted

Scope and applicability

Applicable to

solar salt, rock salt, vacuum salt

End uses

highway, runway, parking lot, sidewalk de-icing; ice control; pre-wetting brine preparation

Used by

48+ US state DOTs, FHWA-funded projects, NJDOT/PennDOT/NYSDOT cooperative purchasing

Chemical composition requirements

NaCl (sodium chloride): ≥ 96.5% (dry basis)
Insoluble matter: ≤ 2.5%
Moisture (loss on drying at 110°C): ≤ 2.0% (Type 1) / ≤ 3.0% (Type 2)
Anti-caking additive: Optional, e.g. Sodium ferrocyanide (Yellow Prussiate of Soda — YPS / E535) ≤ 100 ppm

Gradation (particle size)

Type 1 — Coarse

12.5 mm (½"): 100
9.5 mm (⅜"): 95-100
4.75 mm (#4): 20-90
2.36 mm (#8): 10-60
600 µm (#30): 0-10

Use: traditional spreader bar trucks, low-speed traffic, high-application-rate roadways

Type 2 — Fine

9.5 mm (⅜"): 100
4.75 mm (#4): 90-100
2.36 mm (#8): 50-90
600 µm (#30): 5-30
300 µm (#50): 0-10

Use: pre-wetting brine prep, high-speed highway, faster melt response

Pre-wetting compatibility

AASHTO M-143 salt is commonly pre-wetted with one of:

MgCl₂ (magnesium chloride) brine

at 30% concentration

CaCl₂ (calcium chloride) brine

at 32%

NaCl brine

at 23%

Pre-wetting extends working temperature down to ~-15°C (MgCl₂) or -20°C (CaCl₂) vs ~-7°C for dry NaCl.

Egyptian salt compliance

Egypt Globe Group supplies AASHTO M-143-compliant salt from:

Rock salt source — Siwa Oasis + Qattara Depression

NaCl typical

97.5-98.5% (exceeds 96.5% spec; guaranteed minimum 97.00 %)

Insolubles typical

1.0-1.5% (well under 2.5% limit)

Moisture

1.0-1.5% kiln-dried (meets Type 1 ≤2.0%)

Anti-caking

E535 sodium ferrocyanide 30-80 ppm added at customer request

Sea salt source — North Sinai (El-Arish / Bardawil) + Red Sea (Ain Sokhna)

NaCl typical

96.8-97.8%

Insolubles

1.2-1.8%

Moisture

1.5-2.0% kiln-dried (meets Type 1) or 3.0% natural (meets Type 2)

Comparison to other regional standards

Standard	Region	NaCl min	Notes
AASHTO M-143	USA federal/state DOT	96.5%	+ ASTM D632
ASTM D632 Grade 1	USA (ASTM ref spec)	95%	More liberal than AASHTO
EN 16811-1 Grade A	EU motorway	96%	+ Type 1 with E535 / Type 2 natural
EN 16811-1 Grade B	EU high-speed	95%
BS 3247:2011	UK Highways	95%	UK Salt Association accredited
SS-EN 16811-1	Nordic (Sweden Type 2 emphasis)	95%	Pre-wetting standard
GOST 13830 Grade I	CIS (Russia, Belarus, KZ)	97%	Stricter NaCl spec

Typical procurement workflow (US state DOT)

RFP issued by state DOT or cooperative (e.g. Sourcewell, NJPA) typically May-July for upcoming winter
Vendor responds with NaCl spec sheet, AASHTO M-143 compliance letter, gradation report, plant inspection records
Award Aug-Sept based on price + delivered logistics
Pre-positioning Sept-Nov to DOT salt domes (~25,000-50,000 MT per major contract)
Operational use Nov-Apr (varies by state)

How EGG certifies conformity

Many regional exporters are inconsistent lot-to-lot because the specification is checked once, on a type sample, and then assumed. Egypt Globe Group's Quality Assurance division has been at the nucleus of the group since incorporation in 2014 and certifies every lot, not the product type:

Source release — the on-site laboratories at the Siwa Oasis and Qattara Depression rock-salt mines and at the North Sinai (El-Arish / Bardawil) and Red Sea (Ain Sokhna) saltworks assay each production lot for NaCl, insolubles and moisture before it is released for processing or trucking. Rock salt is guaranteed ≥ 97.00 % NaCl; sea salt is classified raw 94–97 %, washed 97.5–98 % or double-washed ≥ 99 %.
Processing verification — screening, kiln-drying and any E535 dosing are run to the standard's grade / type definition and re-checked on the processed lot.
Port laboratory gate — the port-side QC team at the loading port takes a composite sample per the ISO / ASTM sampling plan, runs the full parameter set of the standard and issues the per-lot Certificate of Analysis before the Bill of Lading. Zero tolerance on specification deviation: a lot outside the CoA is rejected at the loading port, never re-graded or renegotiated.
Independent verification — on request, TÜV Austria (primary, EU / GCC), SGS, Intertek (US / UK / ECOWAS) or Bureau Veritas (all ISO/IEC 17020 + 17025; Cotecna on request) sample during loading, run witness or independent tests and issue a Certificate of Inspection with sealed retained samples.
Contractual guarantee — the specification is guaranteed at the port of loading and binding under the sales contract; voyage condition is governed by the B/L and marine insurance. Laycan discipline with documented NOR / SOF keeps the verified lot and the vessel aligned.

Documentation we provide per AASHTO M-143 shipment

Mill Test Certificate per ASTM C114 chemical analysis (per-lot CoA issued by the port laboratory before B/L)
Gradation report per ASTM E11 sieve analysis
AASHTO M-143 compliance letter signed by QC manager
SDS per OSHA HazCom
Bill of Lading + Certificate of Origin + Commercial Invoice
Third-party TÜV Austria/SGS/Intertek inspection report (buyer option, typical cost 0.3-0.5% of cargo value)

Typical US accounts are state DOT and cooperative buyers of road salt; import procedure per the USA import guide; SKUs under de-icing-grade salt.

Request an AASHTO M-143 quote →
Compare with EN 16811-1 →
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Frequently asked questions

What NaCl purity does AASHTO M-143 require, and what does Egyptian salt actually assay?

AASHTO M-143 requires at least 96.5% NaCl on a dry basis with insoluble matter no more than 2.5%. Egyptian rock salt from Siwa Oasis and the Qattara Depression typically assays 97.5–98.5% NaCl with a guaranteed minimum of 97.00% and insolubles of 1.0–1.5%. Sea salt from North Sinai and the Red Sea assays 96.8–97.8% NaCl with insolubles of 1.2–1.8%. Every lot is analysed per ASTM C114 at the port laboratory before the Bill of Lading.

How do AASHTO M-143 Type 1 and Type 2 gradations differ?

Type 1 Coarse passes 100% at 12.5 mm, 95–100% at 9.5 mm, 20–90% at 4.75 mm, 10–60% at 2.36 mm and 0–10% at 600 µm; it suits spreader-bar trucks and low-speed, high-application-rate roads, with moisture at or below 2.0%. Type 2 Fine passes 100% at 9.5 mm, 90–100% at 4.75 mm, 50–90% at 2.36 mm, 5–30% at 600 µm and 0–10% at 300 µm; it suits pre-wetting brine preparation and high-speed highways, with moisture at or below 3.0%. Sieve analysis is per ASTM E11 on every lot.

What is the relationship between AASHTO M-143 and ASTM D632?

AASHTO M-143 is the federal and state DOT procurement standard and sets NaCl at 96.5% minimum. ASTM D632 Grade 1 is the chemistry and sieve reference specification at 95% NaCl, which is more liberal. Most state DOT winter contracts cite both, together with ASTM C114 for the chemical analysis test methods.

Which documents accompany an AASHTO M-143 shipment from Egypt?

A Mill Test Certificate per ASTM C114 chemical analysis, issued as a per-lot Certificate of Analysis by the port laboratory before the Bill of Lading; a gradation report per ASTM E11 sieve analysis; an AASHTO M-143 compliance letter signed by the QC manager; an SDS per OSHA HazCom; and the Bill of Lading, Certificate of Origin and Commercial Invoice. A third-party TÜV Austria, SGS or Intertek inspection report is a buyer option at a typical cost of 0.3–0.5% of cargo value.

When do US state DOTs tender for AASHTO M-143 salt?

RFPs are typically issued by the state DOT or a cooperative such as Sourcewell or NJPA in May–July for the coming winter. Vendors respond with the NaCl spec sheet, AASHTO M-143 compliance letter, gradation report and plant inspection records. Awards follow in August–September, salt is pre-positioned to DOT salt domes in September–November at roughly 25,000–50,000 MT per major contract, and operational use runs November–April.

Other questions? Email our export desk — the export desk replies to every request.