New 'PDO' Antifreeze Chemistry Advances the state of the Art in Extreme-Service Extended Life Engine Coolants

摘要

In 2001, research scientists at Shell Chemical and Amalgatech presented a paper to the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) explaining how an isomer of propylene glycol (PG), 1,3 Propanediol (PDO) offers interesting potential advantages compared to ethylene glycol (EG) and PG based coolants. Recently, with some customers now successfully using PDO-based engine coolants to address extreme operating environments, interest is quickly expanding and the use of PDO has increased. ASTM Committee D-15 on Engine Coolants has formed a task group that is preparing specifications for PDO engine coolant. This article will review how the changes to heavy-duty engines have stressed some existing coolants, shortened their life, and made PDO even more attractive.