Antifreeze is a substance that has a low freezing point. If you add it to water, then the freezing point of the resulting mixture also decreases. Antifreezes are used to protect engines and prevent aircraft icing.
Instructions
Step 1
The word "antifreeze" is made up of the Greek prefix "anti" (against) and the English word freeze - to freeze. Loosely translated into Russian, "antifreeze" means the term "anti-freeze" familiar to many motorists.
Step 2
The operation of antifreezes is based on the use of fluids that do not freeze at low temperatures. Antifreezes are used in cooling systems of internal combustion engines, to prevent icing of aircraft and car windshields.
Step 3
The most widely used antifreezes are mixtures of mono- and polyhydric alcohols with water. Glycerin, propylene glycol, and ethylene glycol are widely used as polyhydric alcohols, and isopropanol, ethanol, and rarely methanol as monohydric alcohols.
Step 4
In cars, antifreeze is used to avoid damaging engine parts from frozen water. As you know from the physics course, water expands when it freezes - the formed ice crystals can damage the engine. If antifreeze is added to the water, it will freeze at much lower temperatures. Even when frozen, the antifreeze will turn into a mushy mass and will not pose a threat to engine parts.
Step 5
Typically, automotive antifreezes are made from a mixture of water and ethylene glycol. They can be supplemented with additional additives to provide protection against corrosion and cavitation. Ethylene glycol not only lowers the freezing point of the coolant, but also increases its boiling point. This feature serves as an additional advantage of using ethylene glycol-based antifreezes in the summer.
Step 6
Depending on the complex of additional additives, modern antifreezes are divided into several types - traditional, Lobrid, Hybrid and carboxylated. Traditional antifreezes contain mineral corrosion inhibitors - various silicates, nitrates, nitrites, phosphates, borates, etc. Now traditional antifreezes are considered obsolete. Organic acids are used in carboxylate antifreezes. Unlike traditional antifreezes, carboxylates do not form a protective layer over the entire surface of the system, but only in places of corrosion. Carboxylate antifreezes provide reliable protection against rust and cavitation and have a long service life. Lobrides and hybrid antifreezes use a combination of organic and inorganic corrosion inhibitors.
