Material compatibility evaluation for elastomers, plastics, and metals exposed to ethanol and butanol blends

Abstract

h i g h l i g h t sMaterials were exposed to ethanol and butanol fuels, and aggressive blends. Materials examined included elastomers, plastics, and metals. Volume and mass changes were measured plus some tensile strength. Significant changes in the materials observed for the elastomers. Smaller changes were seen for the plastics and the metals. a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c tAs the use of alternative fuels increases in the marketplace, it is important to understand how these new fuels might impact the network of transportation, storage, and distribution systems used for transportation fuels. This study examined materials compatibility issues for components that would be found in the existing petroleum fueling infrastructure. E10 blends with both aggressive and non-aggressive formulations, a 55% butanol blend with an aggressive formulation were employed on metal, plastic, and elastomer samples. The material specimens were evaluated before and after exposure for volume and mass change, and elastomers and plastics were tested for tensile strength. The elastomers and plastics generally increased in volume and mass immediately following the exposures, indicating the adsorption of the liquid fuels into the elastomer and plastic material. Following drying, the most elastomers shrank to volume/mass values below that of the original sample, indicating that the liquid fuel and some of the associated elastomer components were removed from the sample, while plastics retained some of this volume swell/mass gain after drying, indicating that the liquid fuel was retained in the plastic structure. Metal samples were the least affected by the liquid fuel exposures, with all samples showing a minimal increase or decrease in volume of 6% or less and negligible change in mass. Most elastomers and plastics showed a reduction in tensile strength and elongation after the fuel exposures.

Performance of Anisole and Isobutanol as Gasoline Bio-Blendstocks for Spark Ignition Engines

“…Additionally, no material compatibility issues were detected for the tested fuel blends. This is in conformity with the literature studies which revealed that higher (55%) isobutanol binary blends exhibit similar material compatibility to E10 gasoline [80]. Although the 15% anisole binary blend did not show any material compatibility issues during the study, it is expected that such issues may arise at higher concentrations, as observed for other oxygenated bio-blendstocks [81].…”

Compatibility study of high-density polyethylene with ethanol–gasoline and biodiesel

“…Similar test results were also found by Thompson et al 8 A possible explanation for this result is that more fuel absorption than oxidative damage occurs between HDPE and diesel and B30, but this fuel absorption was significantly weaker than gasoline and E30. In addition, unlike most soaked elastomer increased in volume and mass when wet and then decreased in volume and mass when dried, 13 the HDPE both had volume and mass increase before and after drying and juts the increase is going down after drying, indicating that some liquid fuel was retained in the HDPE structure.…”

Permeation Damage of Polymer Liner in Oil and Gas Pipelines: A Review

“… The samples show a reduction in % elongation. [ 161 ] HDPE E30 (ethanol-gasoline) B30 (biodiesel) T: 45 °C Duration: 1608 h Mass and volume change was observed. Yield strength increases because of the absorbed fuel act as a plasticizer.…”