Compatibility With Plastics and Elastomers: Title
Compatibility With Plastics and Elastomers: Title
Compatibility With Plastics and Elastomers: Title
Formation of a haze must be carefully distinguished from contacted by water, the aqueous phase which separates is
separation into two distinct phases with a more or less dis- particularly aggressive in its attack on fuel system metals.
tinct boundary. Haze formation is not grounds for rejection. The tern (lead-tin alloy) coating on fuel tanks, aluminum,
Actual separation into two distinct phases is the criterion for magnesium and zinc castings, and steel components such as
failure. fuel senders, fuel lines, p u m p housings, and injectors, are
susceptible.
A number of test procedures, other than long-term vehicle
Compatibility With Plastics and Elastomers
tests, have been used or proposed to evaluate the corrosive ef-
Plastics and elastomers used in current automotive fuel fects of fuels on metals. The tests range from static soaking of
systems such as gaskets, O-rings, diaphragms, filters, seals, metal coupons to operation of a complete automotive fuel
etc., may be affected in time by exposure to motor fuels. system. None of these tests has yet achieved the status of an
These effects include dimensional changes, embrittlement, ASTM standard.
softening, delamination, increase in permeability, loss of
plasticizers, and disintegration. Certain gasoline-oxygenate Applicable ASTM Specifications
blends can aggravate these effects.
ASTM Title
The effects depend upon the t>pe and amount of the oxy-
genates in the blend, the aromatics content of the gasoline, D4806 Specification for Denatured Fuel Ethanol for
the generic polymer and specific composition of the elas- Blending with Gasolines for Use as Automo-
tomeric compound, the temperature and duration of contact, tive Spark-Ignition Engine Fuel
and whether the exposure is to liquid or vapor. D4814 Specification for Automotive Spark-Ignition
Engine Fuel
Currently, there are no generally accepted tests that corre-
late with field experience to allow estimates of tolerance of D5797 Specification for Fuel Methanol (M70-M85)
for Automotive Spark-Ignition Engines
specific plastics or elastomers to oxygenates.
D5798 Specification for Fuel Ethanol (Ed75-Ed85)
for Automotive Spark-Ignition Engines
Metal Corrosion D5983 Sjjecification for Methyl Tertiary-Butyl Ether
(MTBE) for Downstream Blending with Au-
Corrosion of metals on prolonged contact can be a prob- tomotive Spark-Ignition Fuel
lem with gasolines alone, but is generally more severe with D02:1347 Committee D02 Research Report on Reformu-
gasoline-alcohol blends. When gasoline-alcohol blends are lated Spark-Ignition Engine Fuel
ASTM IP Title