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1623894 
Book/Book Chapter 
Flammability Characteristics of TKS Anti-Icing Fluid 
Cavage, WM 
2008 
Federal Aviation Administration, [URL:http://www.fire.tc.faa.gov] 
TKS anti-icing fluid is being used in a variety of platforms to provided anti-/deicing capability for smaller commercial aircraft. The flammable liquid is comprised of 85 percent ethylene glycol, 10 percent water, and 5 percent isopropyl alcohol, and questions about its potential hazards have been raised. These hazards include, but are not limited to, the heating of small puddles of fluid that were either spilled or leaked, dripping of the fluid on hot surfaces, and the contact of the fluid mist with ignition sources. Simple tests were performed to allow for a more basic characterization of the TKS anti-icing fluid flammability. These tests were (1) an ASTM D 56-87 flash point test, (2) a hot-pan flammability test, (3) a hot-surface ignition test, and (4) a spray flammability test. As expected, TKS anti-icing fluid is flammable under the correct conditions. The flash point was found to be approximately 150 degree F, but the fluid appears to have a very low energy release when reacting. The fluid will burn if heated in a pan to approximately 250 degree F and subjected to an ignition source, but burns relatively cool. When dripped onto a hot surface, the fluid does not react but will probably display relatively violent characteristics if heated in a confined space above 750 degree F (approximate autoignition temperature). The fluid will burn in a mist at ambient temperature and pressure when exposed to a flame, but will not sustain a reaction when the flaming ignition source is removed. Only sporadic ignitions (no fireball) confined to small areas were observed when the mist was ignited with a spark. 
Deicers; Flammability; Alcohol; confined spaces; Mists; Sprays; Aircraft; Temperature