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How effective is Inhibited Propylene Glycol, as a Heat Transfer Fluid?

 Propylene Glycol is a synthetic liquid used in a wide range of applications such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food, and manufacturing industries. It is an alcohol that absorbs water and mixes with many solvents, made primarily made by treating propylene oxide from refining petroleum with water. It is commonly used as a heat transfer fluid in various applications due to its favorable thermal properties and low toxicity. Here are some key characteristics that make propylene glycol suitable for use as a heat transfer fluid:

·         Low Freezing Point

·         High Boiling Point

·         Excellent Thermal Conductivity

·         Low Toxicity

·         Good Compatibility with Materials

·         Stability and Longevity

However, propylene glycol is corrosive in nature and oxidizes into five organic acids when exposed to air. Those acids (Glycolic, Glyoxalic, Formic, Carbonic, Oxalic) are highly corrosive and chemically attacks the metal system, causing pitting, pinhole and stress cracking corrosion.



Inhibited Propylene Glycol, manufactured by Chemtex Speciality Limited under the brand name “TONO FROST 593” finds extensive use in process cooling and heating systems finding extensive usage as heat-transfer fluid in Food & Beverage industries, such as Beverages & Juices, Breweries & Distilleries, Dairy & Ice Cream, Packaged Food, Fish Processing Units, Pharmaceutical & Bulk Drugs, Poultry, Vegetable Oil for Process Cooling, Immersion Freezing, Cooling Liquids & Dairy Products, Fermentation and Maturation Cooling, Carbonated Beverage Cooling, Plastic Bottle Molding Cooling, Ice Systems, Single-Fluid Process Cooling, Closed-Loop Water-based heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) applications, owing to its improved viscosity at lower temperature, driving process cooling efficiency, freezing point for aqueous solution applications and non-toxicity. It is used as a heat-transfer medium that protects against pressure bursts and corrosion, controls viscosity, and dissolves active agents. It can also be used in paints and coatings for wear and weather protection, as an aircraft in liquid detergents, and antifreeze, and as a solvent in printing ink.  As a basic building block, it is used in its raw form to make formable plastics like unsaturated polyester resins. The resins are used in windmill blades, furniture, marine construction, gel coats, synthetic marble coatings, and sheet molding compound and for heavy-impact surfaces such as floors.

Primary function of using inhibited propylene glycol prevents glycol degradation, not allowing sludge deposition, while increasing the glycol operational life and metallurgy, whilst not affecting freeze protection properties. Also designed to protect brass, copper, steel, cast iron, aluminum alloys, and other components such as rubber hoses, rubber seals, plastic components, etc.

Chemtex’s TONO FROST 593 is NSF Certified for use as a Heat Transfer Fluid with Incidental Food Contact. It is also listed with FSSAI under Food Product Category 99 for Substances added to Food. The effectiveness in preventing corrosion has been proven in extensive laboratory and in actual service tests.

Using TONO FROST 593 for heat transfer applications instead of brine solutions or uninhibited propylene glycol reduces maintenance costs and improves heat transfer efficiency.

Key Features and Benefits

·         Enhances cooling rate

·         Increases system production rate

·         Wider operation temperature range

·         Prevents scaling and choking of pipelines

·         Reduces electrical consumption

·         Non foaming nature

·         High stability, consistent performance

·         Corrosion inhibited

·         Prevents bio-fouling and microbial induced corrosion

·         Eliminates need for coolant additives

·         Longer operational life than water and brine coolants

·         Available in coloured variant for easy leak detection

For more information on TONO FROST 593, visit https://www.chemtexltd.com/products-and-solutions/heat-transfer-fluid/glycol-antifreeze/inhibited-propylene-glycol/  

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