Compatibility of Magnesium Alloys with Methanol-Containing Fuels

Although magnesium is not attacked by hydrocarbons, it reacts vigorously with anhydrous methanol, raising concerns about the compatibility of the metal with methanol blend fuels. This paper describes the behavior of magnesium alloys in laboratory tests in static contact with methanol-containing fuels at 110°F. Water in small concentrations (above 0.25% by weight of the methanol content) is shown to prevent the destructive attack of magnesium by these fuels. The required water content is well within the water tolerance of methanol-GTBA (gasoline grade tertiary-butyl alcohol) cosolvent fuel blends. Die cast AZ91HP shows greater resistance to methanol reaction than does AZ31B sheet.