WATER/PROPYLENE GLYCOL SOLUTIONS

1)
% Propylene Glycol
% Water
Freezing Point

-6.7 (This seems

strange)
20
80
-9.4
25
75
-12.2
30
70
-16.1
35
65
-20.6
45
55
-26.7
50
50
-33.3
Proper use of Inhibited Propylene Glycol Advantage Engineering Inc - 4/14/95
http://www.ttequip.com/knowledgelibrary/Proper%20Use%20Of%20Inhibited%20Propylene
%20Glycol.pdf
(accessed online 30/03/2016)
Above does not clarify whether by % mass or volume
0

100

2) Similar values given in http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/propylene-glycol-d_363.html

shown below
% Propylene Glycol (weight)

% Water

Freezing Point

0
100
0
10
90
-3
20
80
-8
30
70
-14
40
60
-22
50
50
-34
60
40
-48
Heat transfer fluids Engineering Toolbox (accessed online 30/03/2016)
3) Values with smaller intervals given
http://www.temperaturecorporation.com/pdf/glycolconcentrationrequirements.pdf
(accessed online 30/03/2016)
% Weight Propylene % Volume Propylene Freezing Point
Glycol
Glycol

0
4
8
12
16
20
22
24
27
30
32
34
37
40

0
3.8
7.7
11.6
15.5
19.4
21.4
23.4
26.4
29.4
31.4
33.5
36.5
39.6

0
-1
-2
-4
-5
-7
-8
-9
-11
-13
-14
-16
-18
-21

42
41.6
45
44.7
48
47.8
50
49.9
WATER/ETHYLENE GLYCOL SOLUTIONS
2) Values for Ethylene
% Ethylene Glycol (Volume)
% Water

-22
-27
-30
-34

Freezing Point

0
100
0
10
90
-3.4
20
80
-7.9
30
70
-13.7
40
60
-23.5
50
50
-36.8
60
40
-52.8
Heat transfer fluids Engineering Toolbox (accessed online 30/03/2016)
http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/ethylene-glycol-d_146.html
3) More detailed values given
% Weight Ethylene
Glycol

% Volume Ethylene
Glycol

Freezing Point

0
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
12
14
16
18
20
24
28
32
36
40
44
48
52
56
60

0
1.8
2.7
3.6
4.4
5.4
6.3
7.2
8.2
8.9
10.9
12.8
14.6
16.5
18.1
22.0
25.8
29.6
33.5
37.5
41.5
45.5
49.6
53.7
57.8

0
-1
-1
-1
-2
-2
-2
-3
-3
-3
-4
-5
-6
-7
-8
-10
-13
-16
-20
-24
-28
-33
-39
-45
-51

http://www.temperaturecorporation.com/pdf/glycolconcentrationrequirements.pdf
(accessed online 30/03/2016)

COMPARISON TABLE ENGINEERING TOOLBOX

Property

Ethylene
Glycol

Propylene
Glycol

Comments

Freeze point
depression

more
effective

less
effective

More antifreeze is needed

of propylene glycol to
achieve the same freeze
point

Heat transfer
efficiency/capabilit
y

better

less

Viscosity

lower

higher

Flammability
Chemical oxygen
demand

low

low

low

higher

Biodegrading

Carcinogenic

Toxic

Ethylene glycol has

superior heat transfer
efficiency due to lower
viscosity - but more fluid
must be circulated to
transfer the same amount
of energy since Propylene
glycol has higher specific
heat.
Propylene glycol increases
major head loss in the
systems. Pumps head
increased.

needs more
degrades in than 20 - 30
10 - 30 days days to
degrade
no

no

High level of
acute when
Lower level
taken orally,
of acute
targets the
kidneys

A carcinogen is any
substance or agent that
promotes cancer
Ethylene glycol should
never be used in any
drinking water or food
processing system

Propylene glycol is used in

small amounts in
cosmetics
http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/ethylene-propylene-glycol-d_904.html
Skin irritant

low

low

(accessed online 30/03/2016)

Further comparison between Ethylene and Propylene Glycol freezing points can be seen in
the table below (Note Farenheit units):
Desired Aqueous
Solution Freezing
Temperature, F (C)

20 (-6.7)
10 (-12.2)
0 (-17.8)
-10 (-23.3)
-20 (-28.9)
-30 (-34.4)
-40
-50 (-45.6)

Wt. % Ethylene Glycol

Required

Wt. % Propylene Glycol

Required

16
19
25
29
33
36
40
43
45
48
49
52
53
55
56
58
Stephen M. Pescatore - Certified Water Technology The Analyst
https://www.awt.org/pub/01438914-BCF8-EDB0-5BAF-6A6D8C6A0221 accessed online
(30/03/2016)