DETERMINATION OF EQUILIBRIUM-CONSTANTS OF A TRIALKYL BORATE USED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF BRAKE FLUID MANUFACTURING

For each of the three stages in the hydrolysis of tris(3,6,9-trioxadecyl) borate, the equilibrium constant is determined through aquametric analysis. It is shown that the amount of water in the equilibrium can be determined from the boiling points of mixtures made of known amounts of 3,6,9-trioxadecan-1-ol, water, and the borate ester. The equilibrium 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 tris(3,6,9-trioxadecyl) borate in a continuous process.