What is the purpose of antifreeze?

[JaxonRose]

Antifreeze is a type of coolant containing special additives, primarily used in liquid-cooled engine cooling systems. It serves multiple functions, including preventing freezing in winter, boiling in summer, and protecting against scale and corrosion throughout the year, ensuring the engine operates within the normal temperature range. Antifreeze has a high boiling point, low volatility, moderate viscosity, minimal changes with temperature variations, and excellent thermal stability, making it an ideal coolant. It is commonly used in automobiles, diesel locomotives, tractors, ships, engines, radiators, and various mechanical equipment, such as diesel and gasoline engines, as a cooling fluid. The typical service life of antifreeze is two years, and it must be replaced regularly, usually every two years or every 40,000 kilometers driven.