Abstract:
The invention provides an alkylene glycol, preferably propylene glycol, anti-corrosive antifreeze concentrate composed of the glycol and small but effective amounts of borate, sebacate, molybdate, mercaptobenzothiazole, nitrate, tolyltriazole and silicate. The concentrate is suitably combined with water to form an internal combustion engine coolant which meets all ASTM testing criteria.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Continuation of Ser. No. 810,613, Dec. 19, 1991 which application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 07/659,794 filed Feb. 25, 1991, now abandoned which application is, in turn, a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 07/627,513 filed Dec. 14, 1990 and now abandoned. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to phosphate free corrosion-inhibited antifreeze concentrate formulations and to phosphate free aqueous corrosion-inhibited antifreeze formulations for use in the cooling systems of internal combustion engines. In particular, the invention relates to an antifreeze concentrate comprised predominantly of a glycol, most notably propylene glycol, together with borate, sebacate, molybdate, mercaptobenzothiazole, nitrate, tolyltriazole, and silicate, and to aqueous formulations containing said concentrate. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of each of the components employed in the formulations of the present invention is taught in the art. 
     Propylene glycol is taught as a freezing point depressant in antifreeze formulations, for example in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,147,409, 4,149,985 and many others. 
     Alkali metal borates have been used as corrosion-inhibitors in antifreeze formulations. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos.  4,149,985, 2,566,923, 3,960,740, 2,373,570, 2,815,328 and the like. 
     Alkali metal sebacates have been used as corrosion inhibitors in aqueous systems as taught in U.S. Pat. No. 2,726,215, and in antifreeze coolants as taught in U.K. Patent 1,004,259 and in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,382,008, 4,561,990, 4,587,028, 4,588,513 and the like. 
     Alkali metal molybdates have been taught as corrosion-inhibitors in antifreeze formulations. See U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,147,409 and 4,561,990, for example. 
     Alkali metal mercaptobenzothiazole has been used in antifreeze formulations along with other additives. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,815,328, 4,455,248, 4,414,126, 4,545,925 and the like. 
     Alkali metal nitrates have been added to antifreeze formulations as corrosion-inhibitors. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,815,328, 4,508,684, 4,455,248, 4,587,028 and the like. 
     Tolyltriazole is taught as an antifreeze formulation component, for example in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,242,214, 2,587,028, 4,382,008, U.K. Patent 1,004,259 and the like. 
     In addition, alkali metal silicates are shown as antifreeze components in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,815,328, 4,242,214, 4,382,008, 4,382,870, 4,455,248, 4,149,985 and the like. 
     Alkali metal phosphates have been used as corrosion-inhibiting components of antifreeze formulations as shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,147,409, 4,382,870, 4,455,248, 4,149,985, 4,545,925 and the like. 
     A considerable number of patents have been granted which are directed to antifreeze formulations which comprise certain specific combinations of components. Included among such patents are U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,242,214, 4,382,008, 4,382,870, 4,455,248, 4,561,990, 4,587,028, 4,588,513, 4,545,925, 4,000,079, 4,338,209, 4,759,864, 4,219,433 and many others. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a phosphate free anti-corrosive antifreeze concentrate and to aqueous antifreeze coolants using the concentrate which satisfy the rigorous standards imposed on such coolants. Specifically, the present invention provides an antifreeze concentrate comprised of a major proportion of an alkylene glycol together with small but critical amounts of borate, sebacate, molybdate, mercaptobenzothiazole, nitrate, tolyltriazole, and silicate as well as to aqueous coolants containing the concentrate, which is especially useful in areas where phosphates are prohibited. Especially preferred concentrates are those wherein the alkylene glycol is propylene glycol. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Alkylene glycols which are used in the formulations of the invention include ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol and mixtures. Formulations containing propylene glycol are preferred. In general, the antifreeze concentrates of the invention contain 90 to 98 wt % of the glycol, although this amount may vary considerably. 
     As above indicated, the antifreeze concentrate of the invention contains, in addition to glycol, small but critical and effective amounts of borate, sebacate, molybdate, mercaptobenzothiazole, nitrate, tolyltriazole and silicate. Phosphate is excluded, and thus the formulation is particularly useful in marketing areas where the use of phosphate is prohibited. 
     These components are incorporated in the antifreeze concentrate in soluble compound form, preferably in the form of an alkali metal salt, and most preferably as the sodium or potassium salt. 
     The antifreeze concentrate of the present invention contains by weight 0.01 to 0.50% borate calculated as B 4  O 7 , 0.1 to 0.5% sebacate calculated as C 10  H 16  O 4 , 0.53 to 1.0% molybdate calculated as MoO 4 , 0.04 to 0.22% mercaptobenzothiazole calculated as mercaptobenzothiazole, 0.04 to 0.30% nitrate calculated as NO 3 , 0.05 to 0.30% tolyltriazole calculated as tolyltriazole, and 0.042 to 0.09% silicate calculated as SiO 2 . It is desirable to include an effective amount of an antifoaming compound in the concentrate. Such components are well known and preferably may be a polyglycol-type or a silicone-type antifoaming agent. The concentrate contains small amounts of water, usually 1 to 5% by weight water. Alkali metal hydroxide is employed to provide a final pH of 9-10 for the concentrate plus water coolant formulation. 
     Sodium tetraborate is the preferred borate additive; the available hydrates such as sodium tetraborate pentahydrate (Na 2  B 4  O 7  . 5H 2  O) and sodium tetraborate decahydrate (Na 2  B 4  O 7  . 10H 2  O) are conveniently employed, the latter being preferred. Borate, expressed as sodium tetraborate decahydrate, in amount of 0.80 to 1.2 wt. % of the concentrate is employed in accordance with the invention. 
     In order to form sebacate, sebacic acid and alkali metal hydroxide can be separately added to the formulation with the alkali metal sebacate formed in situ. Alternatively, the sebacate salt, e.g., sodium sebacate (Na 2  C 10  H 16  O 4 ) can be used directly. Sebacate, expressed as sebacic acid, is employed in accordance with the invention in amount of 0.1 to 0.5 wt. % of the antifreeze concentrate. 
     Sodium molybdate ( Na 2  MoO 4 ) is the preferred molybdate additive. The commercially available dihydrate (Na 2  MoO 4  . 2 H 2  O) is conveniently employed. Molybdate expressed as sodium molybdate dihydrate in amount of 0.20 to 1.5 wt. % of the antifreeze concentrate is employed in accordance with the invention. 
     Sodium mercaptobenzothiazole (NaC 7  H 4  NS 2 ) is the preferred mercaptobenzothiazole additive; the compound, which may be added as a 50% solution in water, is employed in amount of 0.10 to 0.50 wt. % of the concentrate in accordance with the invention. 
     Nitrate is preferably added in the form of sodium nitrate (NaNO 3 ). In accordance with the invention, nitrate, expressed as sodium nitrate, in amount of 0.05 to 0.40 wt. % is employed in the antifreeze concentrate. 
     Silicate is suitably employed in the form of sodium metasilicate (Na 2  SiO 3 ). The available hydrates, most notably the pentahydrate (Na 2  SiO 3  . 5H 2  O) are conveniently used. Expressed as sodium metasilicate pentahydrate, amounts of 0.15 to 0.30 wt. % of the antifreeze concentrate are employed in accordance with the invention. 
     Tolyltriazole, also known as methylbenzotrizole, (C 7  H 7  N 3 ) is employed in the antifreeze concentrate in amounts of 0.05 to 0.30 wt. % of the concentrate in accordance with the invention. 
     Alkali metal hydroxide, preferably NaOH is employed in amount sufficient to react with sebacic acid to form sodium sebacate and to provide a final pH of 9-10 for the antifreeze combination of water and concentrate. 
     Summarizing, the antifreeze concentrates of the invention have the composition by weight shown in the following table: 
     
                       TABLE 1______________________________________                 (WT %)                 CONCENTRATIONCOMPONENT             RANGE______________________________________Alkylene Glycol       90 to 98Water                 1 to 5Borate, calculated as B.sub.4 O.sub.7                 0.10 to 0.50Sebacate, calculated as C.sub.10 H.sub.16 O.sub.4                 0.10 to 0.50Molybdate, calculated as MoO.sub.4                 0.53 to 1.0Mercaptobenzothiazole, calculated as                 0.04 to 0.22mercaptobenzothiazoleNitrate, calculated as NO.sub.3                 0.04 to 0.30Tolyltriazole, calculated as tolyltriazole                 0.05 to 0.30Silicate, calculated as SiO.sub.2                 0.042 to 0.09______________________________________ 
    
     Propylene glycol is the preferred glycol and the various components are preferably alkali metal compounds, usually sodium compounds according to the following: 
     
                       TABLE 2______________________________________                 (WT %)                 CONCENTRATIONCOMPONENT             RANGE______________________________________Propylene Glycol      90 to 98Water                 1 to 5Sodium Tetraborate Decahydrate                 0.20 to 1.20(Na.sub.2 B.sub.4 O.sub.7.10H.sub.2 O)Sodium Sebacate       0.10 to 0.50(Na.sub.2 C.sub.10 H.sub.16 O.sub.4)Sodium Molybdate (VI) Dihydrate                 0.80 to 1.5(Na.sub.2 MoO.sub.4.2H.sub.2 O)Sodium Mercaptobenzothiazole, 50% soln                 0.10 to 0.50(NaC.sub.7 H.sub.4 NS.sub.2)Sodium Nitrate        0.05 to 0.40(NaNO.sub.3)Tolyltriazole (methylbenzyltriazole)                 0.05 to 0.30(C.sub.7 H.sub.7 N.sub.3)Sodium Metasilicate Pentahydrate                 0.15 to 0.30(Na.sub.2 SiO.sub.3.5H.sub.2 O)______________________________________ 
    
     The present invention relates to the antifreeze concentrates described above as well as to coolant formulations wherein the concentrate is admixed with water and employed in internal combustion engines. Generally, it is desirable to admix the concentrate with about an equal volume of water for use, although amounts of water ranging broadly from 30 to 80 wt. % of the coolant formulation are useful. 
    
    
     EXAMPLE I 
     An antifreeze concentrate was prepared as follows: 
     In preparing the concentrate, propylene glycol was first combined with the (Pluronic) L-61 and the sodium mercaptobenzothiazole solution with agitation. To this glycol solution were individually added the sodium tetraborate decahydrate, the sodium nitrate, the sebacic acid and the tolyltriazole with good agitation and mild heating (50° C.) until the components dissolved. In a separate vessel the water and Q-1-6083 silicate stabilizer were combined with agitation and to this was added the caustic. When the caustic had dissolved, the sodium metasilicate was slowly added and allowed to dissolve. After the metasilicate had dissolved, the sodium molybdate dihydrate was added in several portions with good agitation and heating to about 50° C. When the molybdate was dissolved, the resulting solution was slowly added to the glycol solution with stirring to form the final antifreeze concentrate having the composition shown in Table 3. 
     
                       TABLE 3______________________________________                 (WT %)COMPONENT             CONCENTRATION______________________________________Propylene Glycol      95.365Water                 2.00Sodium Tetraborate Decahydrate                 0.45(Na.sub.2 B.sub.4 O.sub.7.10H.sub.2 O)Sebacic Acid          0.25(C.sub.10 H.sub.18 O.sub.4)Sodium Molybdate (VI) Dihydrate                 1.00(Na.sub.2 MoO.sub.4.2H.sub.2 O)Sodium Mercaptobenzothiazole, 50% soln                 0.25(NaC.sub.7 H.sub.4 NS.sub.2)Sodium Nitrate        0.15(NaNO.sub.3)Tolyltriazole (methylbenzyltriazole)                  0.125(C.sub.7 H.sub.7 N.sub.3)Sodium Metasilicate Pentahydrate                 0.20(Na.sub.2 SiO.sub.3.5H.sub.2 O)Sodium Hydroxide      0.15(NaOH)Q 1-6083*             0.05(silicate stabilizer)Pluronic L-61**       0.01(antifoam)______________________________________ *Polysiloxane manufactured by Dow Corning. **Polyoxypropylene  polyoxyethylene block copolymer manufactured by BASF. 
    
     The concentrate was subjected to certain standard ASTM tests to determine its suitability. The following are the results attained: 
     
         ______________________________________ASTM TEST RESULTSD-1384 Corrosion Test for Engine Coolants in GlasswareCoupon     Avg. Weight Loss, mg                     Max Allowed*______________________________________copper     3              10solder     1              30brass      3              10steel      3              10cast iron  3              10aluminum   0              30______________________________________ 
    
     
         ______________________________________D-4340 Corrosion of Cast Aluminum Alloys in EngineCoolants Under Heat-Rejecting ConditionsAverage Weight Loss, mg/cm2/week                 Max Allowed*______________________________________0.17                  1.0______________________________________ 
    
     
         ______________________________________D-2570 SimulatedService Corrosion Testing of Engine CoolantsCoupon     Avg. Weight Loss, mg                     Max Allowed*______________________________________copper     9              20solder     3              60brass      7              20steel      2              20cast iron  1              20______________________________________ *  Maximum corrosion weight loss as specified in ASTM D3306-89 specification for EG base engine coolants. 
    
     From these results it can be seen that the concentrate composition of the invention passed these ASTM test requirements by a wide margin. 
     In order to demonstrate the surprising results achieved in accordance with the invention, comparative tests were performed with antifreeze concentrates which did not have the composition of the invention. The following Table 4 compares the formulation of the invention from Table 3, formulation A, with similar formulations B and C which are not in accordance with the invention. 
     
                       TABLE 4______________________________________            (WT %)            CONCENTRATION            FORMULATIONCOMPONENT          A       B         C______________________________________Propylene Glycol   95.365  96.175    95.44Water              2.00    2.00      2.00Sodium Tetraborate Decahydrate              0.45    0.45      0.45(Na.sub.2 B.sub.4 O.sub.7.10H.sub.2 O)Sebacic Acid       0.25      0.25*** 0.25(C.sub.10 H.sub.18 O.sub.4)Sodium Molybdate (VI) Dihydrate              1.00    0.50      1.00(Na.sub.2 MoO.sub.4.2H.sub.2 O)Sodium Mercaptobenzothiazole,              0.25    0.25      0.2550% soln(NaC.sub.7 H.sub.4 NS.sub.2)Sodium Nitrate     0.15    0.15      0.15(NaNO.sub.3)Tolyltriazole       0.125   0.125     0.125(methylbenzyltriazole)(C.sub.7 H.sub.7 N.sub.3)Sodium Metasilicate Pentahydrate              0.20    0.10      0.10(Na.sub.2 SiO.sub.3.5H.sub.2 O)Sodium Hydroxide   0.15    --         0.185(NaOH)Q 1-6083*          0.05    0.05      --(silicate stabilizer)Pluronic L-61**    0.01    --        --(antifoam)______________________________________ *Polysiloxane manufactured by Dow Corning. **Polyoxypropylene  polyoxyethylene block copolymer manufactured by BASF. ***Actually added as sodium sebacate (Na.sub.2 C.sub.10 H.sub.16 O.sub.4) 
    
     The following Tables 5 and 6 compare results of standard ASTM tests obtained with the formulations A, B and C from Table 4: 
     
                       TABLE 5______________________________________D-1384 Corrosion Test for Engine Coolants in Glassware    Avg. Weight Loss, mg.    FormulationCoupon     A     B           C   Max Allowed*______________________________________copper     3     3           3   10solder     1     7           3   30brass      3     1           2   10steel      3     1           1   10cast iron  3     102         5   10aluminum   0     0           4   30______________________________________ 
    
     
                       TABLE 6______________________________________D-4340 Corrosion of Cast Aluminum Alloys in EngineCoolants Under Heat-Rejecting ConditionsAverage Weight Loss,mg/cm2/weekFormulationA       B           C      Max Allowed*______________________________________0.17    --          3.23   1.0______________________________________ 
    
     From the data it can be seen that comparative formulation B failed the D-1384 iron corrosion test by a substantial margin and that formulation C, although passing the D-1384 corrosion test, failed the D-4340 cast aluminum corrosion test. By contrast, formulation A passed both tests.