What are the main functions of antifreeze?
1 Answers
Antifreeze serves several key purposes: 1. Cooling function: Cooling is the fundamental role of antifreeze. When the engine operates, it generates a significant amount of heat, with approximately 60% of this heat being dissipated into the surrounding space through the cooling system. 2. Heat dissipation: Antifreeze provides efficient heat dissipation, removing excess thermal energy from the engine to control the temperature of critical metal components. 3. Freeze protection: During winter when temperatures are low, antifreeze contains substances that lower the freezing point of water, allowing vehicles to continue operating in cold weather by preventing the cooling system from freezing. 4. Corrosion prevention: The cooling system consists of components such as radiators, water pumps, cylinder blocks, cylinder heads, and water distribution pipes made from various metals including steel, cast iron, brass, copper, and aluminum. Due to differing electrode potentials among these metals, electrochemical corrosion can occur in the presence of electrolytes. Additionally, acidic byproducts formed from the decomposition of glycol-based substances in the coolant, as well as acidic exhaust gases from fuel combustion that may infiltrate the cooling system, can accelerate corrosion within the system.