Isopropanol advice

[Pjj]

Got an email last night from a supplier for window cleaning who may well have a warehouse, saying that a litre of isopropanol per 600 litres would stop freezing down to -3. So does everyone think this is incorrect?

Ime no chemist but there is no way that dilution would be anywhere near strong enough to stop it freezing

 

[kevinc250]

Ime no chemist but there is no way that dilution would be anywhere near strong enough to stop it freezing

its a difficult question to answer without quoting covalent bonds, brownian motion and all sorts of other things but to put it into really really laymans terms and to keep it very simple is
when water is warm/hot the bond between the hydrogen and the oxygen atoms expand making the water more viscous but, when the water is colder the atoms close together until the water freezes, around 4c and below is that point, when you add iso propanol to the water it attaches to the said water molecule and acts as a barrier or pushes the other molecules away so it is more difficult for the water molecules to come together and freeze.
i think its the op that asked the question about the dilution rate as being quoted as what was it a litre to 600l would suffice, they may be quoting tap water which varies all over the uk (you might have to ask that question) if you add iso to what we say is pure water the iso molecule will because of the above comment about how it works will, drop all other contaminents and make the water in your tank much cleaner apart from the sediment of course.
i've tried to explain this as basic as i can and,i know many holes can be shot through the above comment, would i use iso? hell yes, with a few other ingredients its an every day staple.

 

[Pjj]

its a difficult question to answer without quoting covalent bonds, brownian motion and all sorts of other things but to put it into really really laymans terms and to keep it very simple is
when water is warm/hot the bond between the hydrogen and the oxygen atoms expand making the water more viscous but, when the water is colder the atoms close together until the water freezes, around 4c and below is that point, when you add iso propanol to the water it attaches to the said water molecule and acts as a barrier or pushes the other molecules away so it is more difficult for the water molecules to come together and freeze.
i think its the op that asked the question about the dilution rate as being quoted as what was it a litre to 600l would suffice, they may be quoting tap water which varies all over the uk (you might have to ask that question) if you add iso to what we say is pure water the iso molecule will because of the above comment about how it works will, drop all other contaminents and make the water in your tank much cleaner apart from the sediment of course.
i've tried to explain this as basic as i can and,i know many holes can be shot through the above comment, would i use iso? hell yes, with a few other ingredients its an every day staple.

Thanks Kevin it’s like reading a foreign language to me ???, I thought what spruce said was what I had always thought around 25-30 ltr ?.. to 600 tank . You put 1:5-2:5 ltr of anti freeze in a car that holds 15 ltr of water in the cooling system? I know it’s a bit different but working on that principle thought you would need the figures spruce posted ?..

 

[kevinc250]

Thanks Kevin it’s like reading a foreign language to me ???, I thought what spruce said was what I had always thought around 25-30 ltr ?.. to 600 tank . You put 1:5-2:5 ltr of anti freeze in a car that holds 15 ltr of water in the cooling system? I know it’s a bit different but working on that principle thought you would need the figures spruce posted ?..

sorry but that calculation is wrong paul, 1litre to 600l of water is fine, its not going to work miracles but, it will slow down the freezing process.
if i'm honest anyone who is worried about everything freezing up needs to stop looking at isopropanol and look at other things that will help to keep the heat even at night and during the day

 

[Dave B]

its a difficult question to answer without quoting covalent bonds, brownian motion and all sorts of other things but to put it into really really laymans terms and to keep it very simple is
when water is warm/hot the bond between the hydrogen and the oxygen atoms expand making the water more viscous but, when the water is colder the atoms close together until the water freezes, around 4c and below is that point, when you add iso propanol to the water it attaches to the said water molecule and acts as a barrier or pushes the other molecules away so it is more difficult for the water molecules to come together and freeze.
i think its the op that asked the question about the dilution rate as being quoted as what was it a litre to 600l would suffice, they may be quoting tap water which varies all over the uk (you might have to ask that question) if you add iso to what we say is pure water the iso molecule will because of the above comment about how it works will, drop all other contaminents and make the water in your tank much cleaner apart from the sediment of course.
i've tried to explain this as basic as i can and,i know many holes can be shot through the above comment, would i use iso? hell yes, with a few other ingredients its an every day staple.

You and your brownian motion lol

 

[kevinc250]

You and your brownian motion lol

its all in the motion mate

 

[Dave B]

using ipa in your tank also inhibits bacterial growth so good all round

 

[Iron Giant]

if i'm honest anyone who is worried about everything freezing up needs to stop looking at isopropanol and look at other things that will help to keep the heat even at night and during the day

Some don't have a driveway to be able to hook up electricity and put an oil rad in which is the easiest option or an immersion element, but those diesel heaters a few seem to be buying these days which would be the best option for someone who parks on the street

 

[kevinc250]

i use the diesel heater as i too don't have a driveway, i've had it maybe five and a bit years now and its been the best bit of kit i've ever bought if i'm honest,

 

[Iron Giant]

i use the diesel heater as i too don't have a driveway, i've had it maybe five and a bit years now and its been the best bit of kit i've ever bought if i'm honest,

They seem popular in the campervan world as well those that have converted their own vans quite a few have fitted them, I know of people that have to work away and I assume can't afford digs so sleep in their stealth camper vans

 

[Pane]

hi pane, welcome to the world of additives, yes that subject that causes a lot of greif amongst the die hard old school cleaners, but for say a 350 tank i'd be popping at least a 100ml in the night before this is not for the stopping water freezer thing but just for the cleaning ability,

@kevinc250 Cleaning ability aswell, added advantage ??.

 

[Pane]

You can’t add too much iso to your water as it is alcohol and evaporates
Doesn’t matter how much it bubbles it will leave windows spotless
When very cold I’ve been know to shove a litre in a 400l tank
The only side effect is spotless frames

@Dave B Agreed mate. Spotless frames, windows and sills. Each too their own, a Litre abit excessive for me. A cap full, if needed then 2 cap fulls ??.