Brake Fluid Antioxidant Tester

Monitoring Oxidation Stability with the Brake Fluid Antioxidant Tester

Introduction

Oxidation is a primary degradation pathway for brake fluids, leading to acid formation, viscosity changes, and deposit generation. The Brake Fluid Antioxidant Tester from Changsha Friend Experimental Analysis Instrument Co., Ltd. quantifies a fluid’s resistance to oxidative breakdown under accelerated aging conditions, providing insights into service life and performance retention.

Importance of Antioxidant Testing

As brake fluids oxidize, they can form sludge that impairs valve function, corrode metal parts, and reduce thermal stability. Measuring antioxidant performance helps formulators select effective inhibitors and establish maintenance schedules that preempt degradation.

Testing Procedure

• Accelerated aging: Fluids are circulated or heated in the presence of oxygen at elevated temperatures (e.g., 100 °C–120 °C) for a set period.

• Monitoring parameters: Changes in acid number (via titration), viscosity (using viscometers), and appearance (color and deposit formation) are recorded.

• Result interpretation: The rate of acid build‑up and viscosity increase reflects antioxidant efficacy.

Standards such as ISO 6743‑4 guide test conditions and reporting formats.

Key Instrument Features

• Temperature‑controlled oxidation chamber: Maintains stable aging conditions with programmable oxygen flow.

• Automated sampling: Withdraws fluid at set intervals for off‑line titration or on‑line analysis modules.

• Integrated viscometry: Measures viscosity changes without sample transfer.

• Data integration: Correlates chemical and physical changes over time for comprehensive stability profiles.

Industry Relevance

• Brake fluid R&D: Screen antioxidant packages and optimize inhibitor concentrations.

• Quality assurance: Confirm each production batch meets target oxidation stability.

• Service life prediction: Model fluid aging in real‑world brake systems to set replacement intervals.

• Regulatory compliance: Document stability data for standards and vehicle type approvals.

Best Practices

1. Oxygen purity: Use high‑purity oxygen or air to avoid introducing contaminants.

2. Baseline measurements: Record acid number, viscosity, and color before aging for accurate change assessment.

3. Reference materials: Include known-performance fluids to validate test consistency.

4. Safety protocols: Ensure proper ventilation and use of high‑temperature equipment safeguards.

By systematically evaluating oxidative stability, laboratories and manufacturers can extend brake fluid life, reduce maintenance costs, and maintain braking performance under demanding conditions.