Effects of Ethanol Fuels on Common Static Sealing Polymer Systems

World-wide expansion of ethanol - gasoline blends continue. These fuel blends are complicated by the fact that there is not a fixed formulation that controls the concentration of the ethanol in the gasoline. The study presented examines the effects of varying concentrations of ethanol in gasoline on common static sealing polymers. The polymer families of FKM, HNBR, ACM, AEM and VMQ will be discussed. Data summaries contrasting the effect of ethanol concentration on various mechanical properties by polymer type is presented. Concentrations of 10, 25, 50, 85 and 100% ethanol are examined at one-week and six-week intervals at 23°C.