Determination of equilibrium constants of a trialkyl borate used in the development of automobile break fluid manufacturing

Abstract

For each of the three stages in the hydrolysis of trls( 3,6,9-trioxadecyl) borate, the equilibrum constant is determined through aquametrlc analysis. It Is shown that the amount of water In the equilibrum can be determined from the boiling points of mixtures made of known amounts of 3,6,9-trloxadecan-l-ol, water, and the borate ester. The equilibrum constants are then employed to calculate the composition ranges (characterized by the Karl Fischer water content and boron content) of automobile brake fluids based upon the borate ester, which obey the quality criteria set by the U. S. Department of Transportation (DOT criteria). They are also used to calculate the optimal temperature gradient in the reactor of the first industrial plant in operation producing trk( 3,6,9-trloxadecyl) borate in a continuous process.