Testing procedures

Passing with flying colors

Our products are subject to regular and stringent testing. Nothing else would do, considering the extreme environments our products are used in. TYFO products protect the environment and allow you to control temperatures with high precision. They also ensure your systems operate reliably and enjoy a long service life. It’s unthinkable that a new product would be released without extensive laboratory and field testing.  

Our testing includes checking the corrosion protection, temperature stability, foaming, and low temperature characteristics in addition to measuring a range of physical and chemical parameters. 

Learn more about our testing procedures. 

ASTM D1384 corrosion testing

In the ASTM D1384 corrosion test, our heat transfer media (in addition to prototype and competitor products) are subjected to extreme conditions for 336 hours at 88°C. This procedure lets us examine corrosion inhibition and oxidation stability properties. Metal coupons — modified to meet the respective requirements — are used as test samples. These metal samples normally consist of copper, brass, various aluminium alloys, iron, steels, and hard and soft solders of various compositions.

Conclusions can be drawn about the quality of the heat transfer medium by examining visual changes of the test samples, the weight differential after testing, and changes in the pH value of the test medium. TYFOCOR® quality is plain to see.

ASTM D4340 corrosion testing

In this 168-hour static corrosion test, we examine the extent to which a coolant is able to protect the test sample from corrosion while enabling a specified amount of heat transfer from the metal coupon to the coolant.

The metal test sample is heated to and maintained at a constant 135°C while the resulting equilibrium temperature of the coolant it is immersed in is measured. If this equilibrium temperature falls from the normal 105°C for instance to 90°C, it may indicate that a thick insulating coating has formed on the test sample. This test also involves a subsequent visual examination of the test sample and gravimetric corrosion analysis.

Thermal stability in high-pressure autoclaves

Thermal stability is an important criterion for the quality of heat transfer fluids — especially for solar thermal applications. To achieve temperatures of 220°C and higher over the course of several weeks in aqueous solutions for testing purposes, very high pressures are required. These pressures can only be reliably achieved in special steel containers known as autoclaves.

Foaming testing

Heat transfer media are often pumped at high flow rates in order to transport heat as effectively as possible through a system or simply to maximize cooling. It is important that coolants do not foam, since foaming would limit heat transfer and impair their effectiveness. Consequently, nearly all heat transfer products are formulated with anti-foaming agents. A foaming test is used to determine the effectiveness of these formulations.

Low-temperature properties

Heat transfer media must remain liquid at low temperatures if they are to fulfill their purpose. For some applications, coolants must withstand temperatures as low as –40°C. It’s critically important the coolant does not freeze for the system to continue operating normally. Freezing points are measured in the laboratory by determining the temperature at which a liquid begins to form ice crystals.

Density, refractive index, and viscosity

Density and refractive index are easily determined physical parameters of liquids which provide precise indications of the purity and identity of the respective liquids. For mixtures with known ingredients, these measurements allow us to determine the ratio of the components used. They also allow us to ascertain the degree of protection against freezing that glycol-water mixtures provide.

Automated titrations

Using a Titrino (an automatic titration device), we are able to precisely measure a number of characteristics of raw materials and finished products. This ensures flawless raw materials are consistently used to produce our high-quality products. The measurements conducted include pH value in accordance with ASTM D1287; reserve alkalinity in accordance with ASTM D1121; Karl Fischer titration for moisture content in accordance with DIN 51777; and acid, base, and saponification numbers.

HPLC — High pressure liquid chromatography

High pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) allows us to precisely analyse products and mixtures. We are able to quickly determine the type and quantity of by-products in raw materials as well as the type and quantity of corrosion inhibitors in finished products with this method. The main areas of application beyond research and development include quality assurance for raw materials and finished products in addition to value-added services for our customers.

GC — Gas chromatography

Similar to high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC), gas chromatography (GC) is normally used to analyse the composition of vapourisable liquids. In this manner, we are able to determine the purity, type and quantity of the various by-products or of impurities in our raw materials.

AAS — Atomic absorption spectroscopy

With the help of atomic absorption spectroscopy, the slightest traces of elements such as iron, copper, and zinc can be precisely measured in raw materials and finished goods. Metal contaminants like these could easily have a negative impact on the properties of our finished products. That makes AAS analysis an important part of our quality assurance.

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