The flash point of a volatile material is the lowest temperature at which it can vaporize to form

an ignitable mixture in air. Measuring a flash point requires an ignition source. At the flash point,
the vapor may cease to burn when the source of ignition is removed.
The flash point is not to be confused with the autoignition temperature, which does not require
an ignition source, or the fire point, the temperature at which the vapor continues to burn after
being ignited. Neither the flash point nor the fire point is dependent on the temperature of the
ignition source, which is much higher.
The flash point is often used as a descriptive characteristic of liquid fuel, and it is also used to
help characterize the fire hazards of liquids. Flash point refers to both flammable liquids
and combustible liquids. There are various standards for defining each term. Liquids with a flash
point less than 60.5 or 37.8 C (140.9 or 100.0 F) depending upon the standard being applied
are considered flammable, while liquids with a flash point above those temperatures are
considered combustible.
[1]





Temperatures vary widely in the literature and should only be used as estimates. Factors which
may cause variation include partial pressure of oxygen, altitude, humidity, and amount of time
required for ignition. Generally the auto-ignition temperature for hydrocarbon/air mixtures
decreases with increasing molecular weight and increasing chain length. The auto-ignition
temperature is also higher for branched chain hydrocarbons than for straight chain
hydrocarbons.
[4]

The fire point of a fuel is the temperature at which the vapour produced by that given fuel will
continue to burn for at least 5 seconds after ignition by an open flame. At the flash point, a lower
temperature, a substance will ignite briefly, but vapor might not be produced at a rate to sustain
the fire. Most tables of material properties will only list material flash points, but in general the
fire points can be assumed to be about 10 C higher than the flash points. However, this is no
substitute for testing if the fire point is safety critical. It is done by open cup apparatus
[1]


Before we get into making sure you have the right antifreeze in your system, lets take a look at
some general information about antifreeze.
1. Automotive antifreeze has traditionally been made with ethylene glycol and Inorganic
Acid Technology (IAT) corrosion inhibitors since 1926.
2. American vehicles have traditionally been designed to use antifreeze with silicates and
phosphates as corrosion inhibitors.
3. European vehicles have traditionally used antifreeze that does not use phosphates.
4. Japanese vehicles have traditionally used antifreeze that does not use silicates.
5. Newer corrosion inhibitor technology includes Organic Acid Technology (OAT) and
Hybrid Organic Acid Technology (HOAT). Both may be referred to as extended life
antifreeze and were introduced in the 1990s.
6. IAT antifreeze has a 2 year or 30,000 mile service life, where OAT and HOAT have a 5
year or 150,000 mile service life.
7. OAT based antifreeze is not compatible with IAT antifreeze; although, some HOAT
formulas claim compatibility with certain OAT formulas or IAT formulas.
8. OAT and HOAT antifreeze is designed for use in aluminum radiators and components.
9. Antifreeze is dyed to whatever color the manufacturer chooses and may help to
distinguish the type of antifreeze (IAT, OAT or HOAT) or may be used to market
variations of antifreeze formulas within a brand.


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In spite of its name, antifreeze does a lot more than prevent your coolant from freezing in
cold weather. Before you start adding straight water to your coolant system, keep in
mind that antifreeze has these properties:
1. Antifreeze raises the coolant boiling point and lowers its freezing point. As you
know, water will freeze at 32 F (0 C) and boil at 212 F (100 C). Most car engines are
designed to run near 200 F (93 C), which means that your water may boil inside the
engine. This will lead to catastrophic engine failure. Running a 50/50 mix of antifreeze
and water will typically raise the boiling point to 265 F (129 C). This will prevent the
coolant mix from boiling inside the engine under normal circumstances and avoid
expensive repairs.
2. Automotive antifreeze contains corrosion inhibitors to help reduce galvanic
corrosion. Galvanic corrosion, mistakenly referred to as electrolysis, is a chemical
reaction that causes materials to breakdown. When dissimilar metals are in contact
through an electrolyte solution, one metal, the anode, will dissolve and collect on the
other metal, the cathode. This process is used in batteries to produce an electrical current,
but in your cooling system it causes the anode metal to corrode and eventually fail.
Antifreeze helps prevent this process with additives that prevent the flow of electricity.
Since water can become a terrific electrolyte solution, it will allow this process to happen
much faster if you do not combine it with antifreeze.
3. The fluorescent green color of antifreeze can help you identify leaks. That vibrant
green liquid pooled beneath your car may very well be your first indication that you have
a coolant leak. If you just have water in your system and the leak is mild, it may
evaporate before you have a chance to notice it or you may mistake it for condensation
from your air conditioning system. There is no mistaking the bright green of antifreeze,
and youll immediately know you have a leak somewhere in your system.
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