Many mechanical systems rely on hydraulic fluid to function. This pressurized fluid travels through pipes, hoses, and valves to power equipment. For systems operating in close proximity to an ignition source, like an open flame or furnace, fire-resistant hydraulic fluid will be required to minimize the risk of potential injuries and property damage. Applied Material Solutions (AMS) offers a water- glycol fluid (type HFC), to keep your hydraulic systems operating optimally and safely. Learn more about this fluid medium’s common applications, how it differs from standard hydraulic fluid, and the benefits that it offers to numerous industries.

Fire Resistant Hydraulic Fluid

Fire-Resistant Hydraulic Fluid Applications

A devastating fire could occur if a hydraulic system runs in the vicinity of any source of ignition and flammable hydraulic fluid escapes from a damaged pipe in an atomized spray or drips from a leaky valve. To protect equipment, people, and property surrounding these systems and mitigate the risk of fire, applications such as the following, benefit from using fire-resistant hydraulic fluid:

Fire-Resistant Hydraulic Fluids vs. Standard Hydraulic Fluids

While hydraulic fluids typically have a base stock consisting of mineral oil, alternatives include rapeseed oil or other renewable, natural base stocks. For high-temperature applications, hydraulic fluids might use synthetic base stocks of silicone, phosphate esters, or polyalphaolefins (PAOs).

A water-glycol solution with additives to enhance performance is common for fire-resistant hydraulic fluids, enabling them to benefit from higher viscosity, corrosion resistance, and lubricity. Other types of fire resistant hydraulic fluids consist of water-in-oil emulsions, oil-in-water emulsions, phosphate esters and polyol esters to achieve improved fire resistance.

Although fire-resistant hydraulic fluids provide greater resistance to fire than their standard counterparts, they aren’t fireproof; they can still present a fire risk in extreme environments and those with excessively high temperatures. However, fire-resistant hydraulic fluids help reduce the severity of any fires resulting from the leakage or spray of atomized hydraulic fluid under high pressure near ignition sources.

Industries for Fire-Resistant Hydraulic Fluid

Diverse industries use fire-resistant hydraulic fluid to promote safety in their operations, including:

Benefits of Fire-Resistant Hydraulic Fluid

Many industrial environments utilize high-pressure hydraulic systems to power heavy equipment. However, such environments oftentimes also include high-temperature machinery or even open flame, providing numerous opportunities for combustion to occur. While standard hydraulic fluids could ignite and cause a severe fire in these conditions, fire-resistant fluids can help significantly reduce this risk and supplement other fire-suppression measures to keep workers and your assets safe.

Fire-Resistant Hydraulic Fluids From AMS

If you require a fire-resistant hydraulic fluid to safely and reliably power your equipment, consider AMS’s water-glycol FLUID-MAXX 200 FR. Over the past 45 years, AMS has developed into a leading manufacturer of high-quality chemical formula and product solutions. In addition to fire-resistant hydraulic fluids, we offer an extensive selection of foam control products, die cast lubricants, silicone emulsions, hydrophobic and colloidal silicas, and more to serve clients in industries ranging from food processing to water treatment.

Want more information about our hydraulic fluids and other chemical products? Reach out to us today and we’ll put you in touch with a member of our team.