Other Fluids Technical Committee (French CTAF)

Introduction

The Officers of the Other Fluids Technical Committee are as follows:
Chairman : M. Didier Fromonteil (PSA)
Vice Chairman : M. Ralf Strauss (BASF-D)
Evaluation statistiques: Claude SABY (Total)

Since 1980 a GFC working group, within the CTLM (Engine Lubricants Technical Committee), has been developing Coolants test methods. A manual containing 8 “A” status test methods was published in 1990, viz. GFC L-100-A-90 - Liquides de Refroidissement pour moteurs à combustion interne (Coolants for internal combustion engines). Their repeatability and reproducibility being perfectly defined these methods have been transmitted to the BNA (Bureau de Normalisation de l'Automobile), contributing in great part to the elaboration of the first Coolants French Standard NF R15-601.

In 1991 the task of the GFC working group was enlarged beyond the coolants domain and was integrated in CEC as FSG, i.e. Fluids Special Group which became a CEC Technical Committee in 1996, viz. ECTC, Engine Coolants Technical Committee, until 2001. At a meeting held in Paris on 20 April 2001, ECTC was seen as lacking in vitality and then reverted to GFC to become the CTAF with the same Belgian, British, French, German, Italian and Spanish members.

Today’s CTAF comprises some fifteen participants who meet 3 to 4 times a year. Participation keeps increasing since 2001 and the CTAF remains a European GFC working group, as there is no equivalent committee in CEC. The CTAF concentrates on Coolants. To date, already some of the 1990 test methods have been reworked and others are due to be revised in the very near future. To these must be added the new test methods initiated in CEC and being finalised by GFC, or originating from GFC research.

Main Objectives

Among the CTAF multifarious objectives are:

• In the automotive fluids domain (excepting lubricants, grease and fuels): Creating and developing French test methods that will eventually lead to European research (which it does most frequently).
• Inviting the vehicle manufacturers, chemical industry researchers, fluid manufacturers and consumers to exchange technical view points through regular contacts.
• Promoting test methods approved by standard bodies such as AFNOR, BNA, ISO etc.
• Ensuring relevance and perenniality of approved test methods owing to surveillance committees and periodical revisions.

The main topics of research are:

• Physical and chemical evaluation
• Performance evaluation
• Compatibility tests

Creation two working groups

• Washing glazes - Pilote by Mr. Yannick GAZEL
• Car-body - "landromat vehicles" Pilote by Emilie REY (SGS Multilab)