Abstract: A method is described for melting ice, e.g. for penetrating ice, snow, frozen soils and other low melting solid materials where frozen water is a principal constituent. It comprises directly contacting the material to be melted with a melting agent comprising at least one compound selected from the hydroxides, monoxides, methoxides and amides of the alkali metals, lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium and cesium. Mixtures of at least two of these compounds are preferably used to form ice melting compositions of specific characteristics.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are described for penetrating ice. The apparatus comprises: (a) a confined thermochemical reaction chamber having an inlet opening and an outlet opening and containing therein a substantially immobilized first thermochemical reactant, (b) flow means connected to said inlet for delivering an aqueous second thermochemical reactant to said reaction chamber for exothermal reaction with the first reactant, and (c) said outlet opening comprising discharge means for delivering hot thermochemical reaction product including hot aqueous fluid and/or steam into contact with the ice to be melted and penetrated. In an alternative design, the inlet and outlet may be a single opening with a cyclic or oscillating exothermic reaction taking place within the reaction chamber.