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Title: Performance of Vehicle Fuel System Elastomers and Plastics with Test Fuels Representing Gasoline Blended with 10% Ethanol (E10) and 16% Isobutanol (iBu16)

Abstract

The compatibilities of fuel system elastomers and plastics were evaluated for test fuels containing 16 vol.% isobutanol (iBu16) and 10 vol.% ethanol (E10). Elastomers included two fluorocarbons, four acrylonitrile butadiene rubbers (NBRs), and one type of fluorosilicone, neoprene, and epichlorohydrin/ethylene oxide. Plastic materials included four nylon grades, three polyamides, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyoxymethylene (POM), flexible polyvinylchloride (PVC), polyetherimide (PEI), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), and a phenol formaldehyde reinforced with glass fiber (GFPF). For each polymer material, the volume, mass, and hardness were measured before and after drying. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) measurements were also performed on the dried specimens.For the elastomer materials the measured properties were similar for both fuels. The fluorocarbons and fluorosilicone swelled the least (~20%), while more moderate (20-45%) expansion occurred for the two NBR hose grades and (ECO). HNBR, neoprene, and silicone exhibited high swelling and softening, which likely precludes their use in many fuel systems. For the plastic materials, the observed swell was low; Nylon 11 swelled around 15%, but otherwise, their measured swell was <10%. Many of the plastics also showed sensitivity to alcohol type, as the E10 test fuel often impartedmore » appreciably higher swell than iBu16. In general, the plastic materials showed good compatibility with the iBu16 and E10 test fuels. Here, the sole exception was the PVC material, which was structurally degraded from exposure to either fuel type. Compositional analysis showed high fuel retention in Nylon 12 and PVC. PVC also experienced a significant reduction in plasticizer compounds following exposure, which resulted in embrittlement and an increase in the glass-to-rubber transition temperature.« less

Authors:
ORCiD logo [1]; ORCiD logo [1]; ORCiD logo [1]; ORCiD logo [1];  [2];  [3];  [3]
  1. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
  2. Butamax Advanced Biofuels, Wilmington, DE (United States)
  3. Technology Resources International, Inc., Bethesda, MD (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Transportation Office. Bioenergy Technologies Office
OSTI Identifier:
1616838
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC05-00OR22725
Resource Type:
Journal Article: Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
SAE International Journal of Fuels and Lubricants (Online)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 13; Journal Issue: 2; Journal ID: ISSN 1946-3960
Publisher:
SAE International
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS; plastic; elastomer; compatibility; ethanol; isobutanol; volume; hardness

Citation Formats

Kass, Michael, Janke, Christopher, Connatser, Raynella M., Lewis, Samuel, Baustian, James, Wolf, Les, and Koch, Wolf. Performance of Vehicle Fuel System Elastomers and Plastics with Test Fuels Representing Gasoline Blended with 10% Ethanol (E10) and 16% Isobutanol (iBu16). United States: N. p., 2020. Web. doi:10.4271/04-13-02-0008.
Kass, Michael, Janke, Christopher, Connatser, Raynella M., Lewis, Samuel, Baustian, James, Wolf, Les, & Koch, Wolf. Performance of Vehicle Fuel System Elastomers and Plastics with Test Fuels Representing Gasoline Blended with 10% Ethanol (E10) and 16% Isobutanol (iBu16). United States. https://doi.org/10.4271/04-13-02-0008
Kass, Michael, Janke, Christopher, Connatser, Raynella M., Lewis, Samuel, Baustian, James, Wolf, Les, and Koch, Wolf. 2020. "Performance of Vehicle Fuel System Elastomers and Plastics with Test Fuels Representing Gasoline Blended with 10% Ethanol (E10) and 16% Isobutanol (iBu16)". United States. https://doi.org/10.4271/04-13-02-0008. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1616838.
@article{osti_1616838,
title = {Performance of Vehicle Fuel System Elastomers and Plastics with Test Fuels Representing Gasoline Blended with 10% Ethanol (E10) and 16% Isobutanol (iBu16)},
author = {Kass, Michael and Janke, Christopher and Connatser, Raynella M. and Lewis, Samuel and Baustian, James and Wolf, Les and Koch, Wolf},
abstractNote = {The compatibilities of fuel system elastomers and plastics were evaluated for test fuels containing 16 vol.% isobutanol (iBu16) and 10 vol.% ethanol (E10). Elastomers included two fluorocarbons, four acrylonitrile butadiene rubbers (NBRs), and one type of fluorosilicone, neoprene, and epichlorohydrin/ethylene oxide. Plastic materials included four nylon grades, three polyamides, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyoxymethylene (POM), flexible polyvinylchloride (PVC), polyetherimide (PEI), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), and a phenol formaldehyde reinforced with glass fiber (GFPF). For each polymer material, the volume, mass, and hardness were measured before and after drying. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) measurements were also performed on the dried specimens.For the elastomer materials the measured properties were similar for both fuels. The fluorocarbons and fluorosilicone swelled the least (~20%), while more moderate (20-45%) expansion occurred for the two NBR hose grades and (ECO). HNBR, neoprene, and silicone exhibited high swelling and softening, which likely precludes their use in many fuel systems. For the plastic materials, the observed swell was low; Nylon 11 swelled around 15%, but otherwise, their measured swell was <10%. Many of the plastics also showed sensitivity to alcohol type, as the E10 test fuel often imparted appreciably higher swell than iBu16. In general, the plastic materials showed good compatibility with the iBu16 and E10 test fuels. Here, the sole exception was the PVC material, which was structurally degraded from exposure to either fuel type. Compositional analysis showed high fuel retention in Nylon 12 and PVC. PVC also experienced a significant reduction in plasticizer compounds following exposure, which resulted in embrittlement and an increase in the glass-to-rubber transition temperature.},
doi = {10.4271/04-13-02-0008},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1616838}, journal = {SAE International Journal of Fuels and Lubricants (Online)},
issn = {1946-3960},
number = 2,
volume = 13,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Apr 24 00:00:00 EDT 2020},
month = {Fri Apr 24 00:00:00 EDT 2020}
}