For editorial information:
Harold Nicoll, APR Communications Leader (989) 636-5162
HGNicoll@dow.com
EDITORIAL BACKGROUNDER
UCON ™ Fluids and Lubricants
UCON ™ Fluids and Lubricants include UCON ™ Quenchants, a series of nonflammable, aqueous solutions containing special polymers and corrosion inhibitors for quenching both ferrous and non- ferrous metals. They can replace water, oil, or brine solutions and are a preferred quenching media for both low- and high-hardenability, plain carbon, and alloy steels. UCON ™ ULTRAQUENCH™
Series Quenchants were recently introduced to provide additional protection against corrosion and microbial growth.
History
UCON ™ Fluids and Lubricants are polyalkylene glycol (PAG)-based synthetic products that were first introduced in the mid-1940s by Union Carbide Corporation (UCC). UCON ™ Hydrolubes, which are water-glycol hydraulic fluids, were among the first UCON ™ products -- produced to meet the U.S. Navy’s need for fire-resistant hydraulic fluids on aircraft carriers during World War II.
While UCON ™ Fluids and Lubricants have a long track-record of performance, the technology behind the products has been continuously advanced, and the product line expanded and updated, to meet evolving customer requirements. UCC became a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company in 2001 and Dow offers an expanding line of UCON ™ Fluids and Lubricants as part of its Performance Fluids portfolio.
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The Dow Chemical Company
Performance Fluids
Midland, MI. 48674
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Product Descriptions and Applications
UCON ™ Fluids and Lubricants include a wide range of base fluids and formulated products. These polyalkylene glycol (PAG)-based synthetic products differ significantly from petroleum, animal, and vegetable oils. PAG-based products enable lubricant formulators to vary physical and performance properties and to control formulation variables with greater precision than is possible with natural oils. This enables the development and commercialization of more highly differentiated products offering enhanced performance matched to specific service requirements. PAG-based fluids and lubricants also have advantages over other synthetics – including polyol esters and phosphate esters – including lower acid formation under use conditions, greater stability, and, in some cases, lower toxicity. PAG-based fluids also have better cost/performance ratios when compared to other, non- synthetic fluids.
UCON ™ Fluids and Lubricants are valued for their formulating versatility. Their distinct physical and performance properties include a wide range of viscosities, low pour points, high lubricity, cleanliness, stability, high flash points, miscibility, solvency, gas solubility, non-corrosive nature, additive compatibility and are acceptable with elastomers and other equipment materials of construction.
Base Fluids
UCON ™ Base Fluids are used by lubricant formulators to make a wide range of synthetic products.
UCON ™ Base Fluids include UCON ™ LB Fluids, which are water insoluble alcohol-started
materials. UCON ™ 50-HB Fluids are water soluble butanol (also an alcohol)-initiated base fluids, while UCON ™ 75-H Fluids and UCON ™ 60-H Fluids are both water soluble diol-started fluids.
Each class of products is available in several molecular weights and viscosities.
UCON ™ 60-H Fluids are the latest additions to the base fluids line. They have properties similar to butanol-initiated base fluids, but offer excellent low temperature (pour point) and high temperature performance, including exceptional thermo-oxidative stability. UCON ™ 60-H Fluids also provide low friction coefficients and excellent performance under extreme pressure loads. UCON ™ 60-H Base Fluids are 21 CFR 178.3750 compliant (MW>1500) for use in applications with the potential for food contact.
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Formulated Products
In addition to base fluids, UCON ™ products include a variety of formulated products. These fluid and lubricant “packages” consist of base fluids in combination with friction modifiers, corrosion inhibitors and other additives carefully selected based on the performance requirements of specific end-use applications.
Products include water-glycol hydraulic fluids; anhydrous hydraulic fluids; compressor fluids;
coating fluids; metalworking fluids; machinery, gear and bearing lubricants; calendar lubricants;
food grade lubricants; heat transfer fluids; process fluids, solder assist fluids, and quenchants.
Depending on the product, formulators, authorized distributors, and others may use formulated products from the UCON ™ product line as the basis for enhanced proprietary products sold under a variety of brand names, including the UCON ™ brand. For example, the UCON ™ brand of
quenchants is sold by authorized Dow distributors to the primary metals and metal working industries to provide controlled cooling of heated metal.
Advantaged Raw Materials Position
The majority of PAG-based fluids and lubricants are products of a value chain that starts with the production of natural gas and other raw materials. UCON ™ Fluids and Lubricants are products of a back-integrated global production process, which enables Dow to exert greater control over feed- stock availability and cost. In recent years the company has strengthened its supply position in ethylene oxide and propylene oxide, two key ingredients of PAG-based fluids and lubricants. The company has also continued to invest in the network of plants and shipping terminals that produce and inventory UCON ™ Fluids and Lubricants to help ensure that customer requirements are met globally.
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®TM Trademark of The Dow Chemical Company (“Dow”) or an affiliated company of Dow