Evaluating nonmetallic materials` compatibility with MTBE and MTBE + gasoline service

Book · Sun Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:176039

Hotaling, A C

Methyl-tertiary-butyl-ether (MTBE) has become the leading oxygenate in use in the petroleum industry. Since its introduction several years ago there has been premature deterioration of nonmetallic materials in both neat MTBE and MTBE + gasoline. This degradation is costly in several ways: maintenance, replacement, environmental, and product-loss. Identifying nonmetallic materials compatible with MTBE and MTBE + gasoline is important to the petroleum industry -- all the way from the refinery to the retail sale. Exposure tests have been conducted with different types of nonmetallics in neat MTBE, neat MTBE vapor, and 5% MTBE + 95% gasoline. As in previously reported tests, Teflon{reg_sign} laminates were the top performers, experiencing very little change in any of the properties tested. An ester and ether-based urethane laminate also exhibited only small property changes. Most materials displayed significant deterioration of one or more of the measured properties, even in MTBE condensing vapor and the 5% MTBE + 95% gasoline. The specific effects on each material need to be individually evaluated to determine the effect on service life.

• OSTI ID: 176039
• Report Number(s): CONF-950152--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
10 SYNTHETIC FUELS
COMPATIBILITY
COPOLYMERS
CORROSIVE EFFECTS
DECOMPOSITION
ETHERS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FUEL ADDITIVES
MATERIALS TESTING
NEOPRENE
POLYURETHANES
RUBBERS
SEALING MATERIALS
SYNTHETIC MATERIALS
TEFLON
UNLEADED GASOLINE
URETHANE
VITON