Abstract:
<p align="justify"> The strategy for the development of microemulsion-based fire-resistant hydraulic fluids has been expounded. Phase diagrams were constructed for mixtures of water, oil, and nonionic surfactants with and without cosurfactants. From these phase diagrams, the boundaries of the monophasic area were outlined. After the major components had thus been determined, several preliminary formulations were developed by incorporating suitable additives into the oleic ingredient of the hydraulic fluid. These carefully chosen additives considerably improve the performance of the hydraulic fluid. The resulting microemulsion-based compositions complied with most of the requirements set for fire-resistant hydraulic fluids. Model systems pertinent to such formulations were utilized in order to investigate structural factors, which induce enhanced water solubilization. The role played by alcohols in this context was elucidated in terms of an empirical equation. Sophisticated scattering and NMR methods have demonstrated the variations in the microstructure of a high water content model system. Sub-zero differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) techniques have revealed the existence of two types of water (free and bound) and determined their relative concentrations. </p>