company news about Guangzhou Umiko takes you to understand the evolution of brake oil (Part 1)

Guangzhou Umiko takes you to understand the evolution of brake oil (Part 1)

What we call brake oil, also known as automobile brake fluid, is the essential "blood" of the vehicle's braking system. It is a functional liquid that transmits pressure in the vehicle's braking system, enabling the braking system on the wheel to achieve braking action. Its main functions are energy transmission, heat dissipation, corrosion and rust prevention, and lubrication.

Stage 1: Castor Oil Alcohol Brake Fluid (also known as Alcohol Brake Fluid). 
This type of brake fluid was the first type used in automotive brake systems. Its main ingredients are castor oil and low-carbon alcohols. Refined castor oil and low-carbon alcohols are blended together to form a colorless or light yellow clear liquid after precipitation. This is alcohol brake fluid.
Advantages: Easy raw material availability, simple production process, and excellent lubrication.
Disadvantages: Low boiling point, prone to vapor lock, and unstable performance at low temperatures.
This type of brake fluid first appeared before 1970. At that time, domestic automotive brake systems used castor oil alcohol-based brake fluid. With the passage of time and the application of new technologies, the national standards for automotive brake fluids have become increasingly stringent. In January 1990, new regulations mandated the mandatory phase-out of this type of brake fluid. Vehicles manufactured after May 1, 1990, were prohibited from using this type of brake fluid, effectively ending castor oil alcohol-based brake fluid.

Stage 2: Mineral Oil-Based Brake Fluid. 
With the retirement of alcohol-based brake fluid, the demand for developing new types of brake fluid has become increasingly urgent. Therefore, researchers have begun studying mineral-based brake fluid and have achieved good results. Mineral-based brake fluid is made by distilling and dewaxing refined light diesel, then adding thickeners, antioxidants, and additives.
Advantages: Good high-temperature performance (-50°C to 150°C), good low-temperature fluidity, no corrosion to metal parts, and long replacement cycle.
Disadvantages: Poor adaptability to rubber, prone to swelling, leading to accidents, incompatible with water, once a small amount of water enters, it is very easy to vaporize under high temperature conditions, and air lock is prone to occur.
In view of the fact that the above shortcomings are very fatal, resulting in low overall performance, mineral oil-based brake fluid was also "ordered" to be retired.

In Part 2, we will introduce the current mainstream synthetic brake fluids, including alcohol ether type, alcohol ether borate type, and silicone oil type. Stay tuned.