High Temperature vs. Low Temperature Fluids

The decision to choose a synthetic organic fluid, a silicone fluid, or an inhibited glycol-based fluid is largely based on application temperature requirements. If your heat transfer application has a maximum use temperature requirement above 175°C (350°F), you should investigate “high temperature” synthetic organic and silicone fluids. 

However, if your maximum use temperature will be lower than 175°C (350°F), or if you need freeze protection for a water-based system, consider using a “low temperature” inhibited glycol-based fluid. 

Synthetic organic and silicone fluids are engineered to be thermally stable at temperatures up to 400°C (750°F). While operating at these elevated temperatures, these fluids exhibit vapor pressures much lower than steam, making them much more practical and less expensive to use. Some high temperature fluids, such as DOWTHERM™ J and SYLTHERM†1  fluids, have broad operating temperature ranges. These fluids offer high temperature stability, as well as low temperature pumpability and excellent heat transfer characteristics. 

Inhibited glycol-based fluids are actually solutions of water and inhibited glycols. The concentration of glycol in the fluid directly affects its performance properties and is specified by the user to meet specific application (typically minimum temperature) requirements.



† Trademark of Dow Corning Corporation.
1 Dow is a distributor of SYLTHERM products manufactured by Dow Corning Corporation.


®™* Trademark of The Dow Chemical Company ("Dow") or an affiliated company of Dow.