Antifreeze Composition Using Propane-1,3-Diol and Ethanol
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current antifreeze solutions using bioavailable or renewable raw materials face challenges in achieving effective frost protection at low temperatures without increasing viscosity, which complicates processing and application, and often require non-bioavailable components like diethylene glycol.
Innovation Solution
An antifreeze composition comprising propane-1,3-diol, ethanol, and water, with a mass ratio of 35-45:12-16:40-50, providing excellent frost protection from -20 °C to -50 °C and low viscosity, along with additional components like NaOH, sebacic acid, and triazoles for enhanced corrosion protection and sustainability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If diethylene glycol is used to achieve frost protection of -20 to -45°C, then the antifreeze effect is improved, but the viscosity increases and the substance is not bioavailable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by replacing diethylene glycol with a combination of ethanol and propane-1,3-diol in specific ratios (ethanol: 10-30 mass%, propane-1,3-diol: 70-90 mass%). This parameter change achieves the desired frost protection while maintaining low viscosity and bioavailability, directly resolving the contradiction between antifreeze effect and viscosity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite antifreeze system using ethanol and propane-1,3-diol together, where each component contributes to the overall antifreeze effect. This composite approach allows achieving -20 to -45°C frost protection with low viscosity and high bioavailability, overcoming the limitations of using diethylene glycol alone.
2Reliability
If ethanol is used in high concentrations above 20% by mass to improve bioavailability, then the antifreeze effect is improved, but processing and application problems occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the ethanol concentration parameter to a specific range (10-30 mass%) rather than using high concentrations above 20%. This parameter optimization maintains effective antifreeze performance while avoiding the processing and application problems associated with high ethanol concentrations, achieving a balance between bioavailability and ease of manufacture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces propane-1,3-diol as an intermediary substance that works synergistically with ethanol. This intermediary component enhances the antifreeze effect while mitigating the processing issues caused by high ethanol concentrations, allowing the system to achieve desired performance without the drawbacks of pure high-concentration ethanol formulations.
3Reliability
If large quantities of diethylene glycol are used to achieve frost protection of -20 to -45°C, then the antifreeze effect is improved, but the viscosity increases making processing and dosing difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the compositional parameters by using propane-1,3-diol (70-90 mass%) instead of large quantities of diethylene glycol. This parameter change achieves the required frost protection of -20 to -45°C while maintaining low viscosity, thereby improving processing and dosing efficiency without sacrificing antifreeze performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by selecting specific molecular structures of ethanol and propane-1,3-diol that provide the desired antifreeze effect with inherently lower viscosity characteristics. This localized molecular selection optimizes both frost protection and processing efficiency, avoiding the viscosity problems associated with diethylene glycol.
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to an antifreeze containing propane-1,3-diol, ethanol and water, wherein the mass ratio of propane-1,3-diol : ethanol : water is 35-45 : 12-16 : 40-50.