Fire Resistant Hydraulic Fluids

Hydraulic fluids play several important roles in the smooth operation of a well-balanced and well-designed hydraulic system including:

• Heat transfer
• Power transfer
• Corrosion prevention
• Lubrication

Additionally, hydraulic fluids used in industries such as coal mining, iron and steel production, automotive manufacturing, the off-shore industry or used on aircraft and ships must have fire resistant properties.

Hydraulic lines can be subjected to very high pressures and if a hydraulic line in close proximity to an ignition source fails there is a high potential for the system to catch fire and sustain a spray flame, which can result in catastrophic consequences. Fortunately, the widespread use of fire resistant hydraulic fluids has dramatically reduced the risk and limited the damage caused by fires resulting from hydraulic system failures.

Fire resistant hydraulic fluids are grouped under the generic descriptor of HF, and further classified according to their chemical composition under sub-groups such as HFA, HFB, HFC, HFD.

Croda has a range of base fluids and additives for use in each hydraulic sub-group.

HFA – Croda offers a range of speciality emulsifiers and oleochemically derived synthetic ester base fluids branded under industry recognised trade names of Atlas ™, Brij ™, Hypermer ™, Tween ™ and Priolube ™. These products provide the formulator with the ability to control emulsion particle size, particle size distribution, long-term dynamic stability and to provide some degree of lubrication to the formulation.

HFB – Croda has a range of speciality emulsifiers and oleochemically derived synthetic ester base fluids branded under industry recignised trade names of Atlas ™, Brij ™, Hypermer ™, Tween ™ and Priolube ™, which can be used in the formulation of HFB fire resistant hydraulic fluids.

HFC – Croda's unique Emkarox ™ range of polyalkylene glycols can offer outstanding shear stable thickening properties, excellent hydrodynamic lubrication properties, good compatibility with elastomers, good heat conductivity and excellent viscosity temperature profiles.

HFD – Croda's synthetic Priolube ™ ester base fluids are recommended for use where excellent lubrication, good oxidation stability, cleanliness of operation and low environmental impact are considered to be the main priority for the formulator.