Some Really Cool Uses For TEG, And What This Chemical Does
TEG is short for "triethylene glycol." TEG has dozens of uses, many of which may surprise you. In fact, this chemical is so versatile, the real question should be "What does it not do?" The following examples show TEG's diverse uses and what it does in each example.
Gas Tank Desiccant
You know that stuff you pour into your gas tank every winter to prevent the gas from freezing in your car's tank and fuel line? Yup, that is TEG. It is a desiccant, which means that it helps to evaporate excess water from other liquids. In your gas tank, it makes sure that no water in the gas is able to freeze into ice crystals or clog the fuel line with small chunks of ice. Your car is able to run in freezing cold weather because the fuel does not get stuck or blocked when you use a "gas line antifreeze," which is actually TEG, a desiccant, and not actual antifreeze.
Fog Machine Liquid
No joke! If you buy a fog machine to use at a party, on stage for spooky effects, or to decorate your home and property for Halloween, the fog machine uses TEG to create fog. TEG is much safer than the traditional dry ice and water, and it will not destroy your fog machine's ability to function as dry ice would. It is also a very neat effect on a party bus if you own party buses and are thinking about adding more special effects to the buses. Additionally, it does not create a slippery mess after the fog rolls through the floor of the buses or cascades down from the ceilings of the buses.
Disinfectant or Hand Sanitizer
TEG is naturally antibacterial, which is why it has been used in hand sanitizers in place of rubbing alcohol and in disinfecting cleaners. Check the labels of your most commonly used hand sanitizing product, and your disinfectants in your home and at the office. TEG will be spelled out completely and not abbreviated if it is an active ingredient in the products.
De-Icer for Planes
It is a known fact that if there is too much ice on the wings of planes, the planes are grounded until the ice can be removed. There are a number of ways to handle that, but to keep the transportation hubs of flight moving, the chemical approach to removing ice on the planes is the best. TEG is just one of many chemicals that can withstand temps up to negative seven degrees, and therefore readily melts and evaporates ice.
Share