Storage Behavior of High Temperature Jet Fuels

It has been demonstrated that the thermal stability of high-temperature hydrocarbon jet fuels is affected by periods of storage. The investigation described in this paper highlights the storage deterioration problem which the Air Force must face with fuels intended for high-speed, air breathing aircraft. In this connection, the thermal stability histories of 27 fuels during various periods of storage have been documented. At the time of their procurement by the Air Force, all the fuels monitored passed the thermal stability requirement. However, after only 30 weeks of ambient storage, eight JP-6 (MIL-J-25656B) fuels failed to pass the minimum specification requirements for thermal stability.

As a result of the tests conducted, it would appear that the critical period in the life of a high-temperature fuel with regard to its thermal stability takes place during the initial period of storage. Handling, transfer, coker reproducibility, and fuel deterioration are cited as possible influences on this early storage degradation.