Fuel Systems: Material Selection and Compatibility with Alternative Fuels

This course will introduce the participants to the factors governing fuel-material compatibility and methods to predict and empirically determine compatibility for new alternative fuel chemistries.  By understanding the mechanisms and factors associated with chemically-induced degradation, participants will be able to assess the impact of fuel chemistry to infrastructure components, including those associated with vehicle fuel systems.  This course is unique in that it looks at compatibility from a fuel chemistry perspective, especially new fuel types such as alcohols and other biofuels.  The introduction of these new fuels is of concern to the infrastructure and vehicle industries and is a timely topic given federal push towards renewable fuels.  Since most fuels, especially those used in transportation, do not contain appreciable quantities of corrosive acids or water, more emphasis will be placed on elastomers and plastics used as seals and structural components.  However, discussion of metal corrosion will be included for completeness.  The course will include the use of solubility analysis to predict compatibility performance of selected polymer materials and conditions precipitating metal-based corrosion.  Empirical results and field observations will be presented and discussed in the context of fuel chemistry and material structure.