Coolant technologies
Understand the different functions and key components of our inhibitor technologies to select the right coolant for your specific applications.
Choosing the right coolant is essential for optimal performance and longevity of your systems. Our team of experts is here to assist you in making the best choice tailored to your specific needs. To help you understand the importance and benefits of our coolant technologies, we have compiled the most essential information for you.
What is the function of a coolant?
The primary purpose of a coolant is to prevent engine damage from overheating by transferring heat from the hot spots to the heat exchangers. In cold climates, the coolant must also have the correct mixture to provide sufficient anti-freeze protection. Since the coolant comes into contact with various materials in the engine, it must not corrode or deteriorate these materials. Additionally, the coolant lubricates the coolant pump.
Heat
transfer
To facilitate efficient temperature regulation by transferring heat between components, ensuring optimal system performance, preventing overheating and bringing components into a temperature range where they can operate most efficiently.
Corrosion, cavitation, erosion protection
To safeguard metals from corrosion and prevent material degradation over time.
Freeze
protection
To prevent freezing in cold climates and extend engine or system longevity with appropriate freeze protection properties.
Boiling
protection
To prevent boiling at elevated temperatures, maintaining system stability and preventing damage.
What is the composition of a coolant?
A ready-to-use coolant is made up of three key components:
-
Demineralised Water: Ensures efficient heat transfer without leaving mineral deposits.
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Freeze Point Depressant: Protects the coolant from freezing in cold temperatures and boiling under thermal stress.
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Inhibitor Package (Additives): Shields engine components from corrosion, cavitation and erosion, helping extend the life of your system.
Most of our products are available in ready-to-use and concentrates. For many of our products we also have superconcentrates available.
Base fluid: the fundamental building block of your coolant
The base fluid in coolants is a critical component that significantly impacts the heat transfer capacity, its freezing and boiling protection. Understanding the different types of base fluids and their properties is essential for selecting the right coolant for your needs.
Choosing the appropriate base fluid is key to optimizing the performance and longevity of your coolant, ensuring that it meets the specific demands of your application.
The most commonly used base fluids include:
Commonly used due to its excellent heat transfer properties and usually combined with other base fluids to achieve the desired freezing/boiling protection. Water can only be used as base fluid if no freeze or boiling protection is required. Water is one of the most common components in modern coolants because of its high heat capacity, low cost and general availability. Read more.
Monoethylene Glycol MEG, also known as Ethylene Glycol EG, is a widely used commodity product, sourced from naphtha, gas, coal, or renewable sources. MEG is often preferred in automotive as it has the best compromise properties to guarantee good heat transfer, low viscosity, freezing protection, low toxicity, low flammability in an economical acceptable balance.
Monopropylene Glycol MPG, also known as Propylene Glycol PG, is a low-toxicity alternative to MEG with different properties, availability, and price levels, sourced from naphtha or renewable sources. PG is very often used in data centres seen the low tox properties.
Formate, acetate, succinic or salts, used as freeze depressants in water-based mixtures, provide heat transfer advantages in comparison with MEG or MPG for a variety of applications.
Additives boost performance
The inhibitor package only represents a small portion of a coolant content but has an important influence on the coolant performance. Coolant additives serve multi purposes: their primary role is to provide corrosion protection to metals and alloys. Additionally, they ensure overall material compatibility with elastomers, plastics and rubbers and maintain the coolant’s properties and performance throughout its entire life cycle. All of this supports the extended life of both the fluid and the system components with less waste and replacements during the life time of the cooling system.
Additive technologies can be categorised purely on their chemical nature:
Mineral-based Additives:
Traditional inorganic compounds, such as borates, silicates, nitrites, ...
Organic-based Additives:
Additives such as salts of benzoic acid, succinic acid, sebacic acid, ...
Low Conductive Additives:
Tailored for electric drive applications where electrical conductivity control is important.
Non-Ionic Additives:
Designed to meet specific electrical conductivity requirements in electrical vehicles or power electronics.
OAT (Organic Additive Technology) and IAT (Inorganic Additive Technology)
Two inhibitor types or mixtures of both are often used: Organic Additive Technology (OAT) and Inorganic Additive Technology (IAT). The carboxylate inhibitors used in OAT coolants have very low depletion rates which enable a long lifetime of the coolant and associated trouble-free operation of the cooling system components.
Inorganic or mineral inhibitors generally offer relatively fast however more targeted corrosion protection. When combined with an organic backbone, they will support overall corrosion protection. For this reason, the most modern coolants are based on an OAT with or without a selection of additional mineral additives.
Reduced conductivity
Organic additive based coolants specially designed to use in battery and battery circuit of hybrid vehicles
