Compatibility of Polymers Exposed to Heating Oil Blends With 10 % and 20 % Biodiesel (FAME)

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Product Number: 51321-16222-SG

Author: Sina Pötzsch/Ralph Bäßler/Margit Weltschev

Publication Date: 2021

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Biodiesel (FAME) from rapeseed is an environmentally friendly alternative to common fossil fuels. It is also suitable to serve as blending component to fuelslike heating oil. If the fuel composition is changed, materials compatibility must be guaranteed. Adding polar biodiesel to nonpolar heating oil, changes the blend’s solvency and might cause swelling, extraction and solvation of polymers. The objective of this research was to investigate the compatibility of polymeric materials, which are commonly used for components in middle distillate facilities, along with blends of heating oil and 20% biodiesel (B20). For this propose, ACM, HNBR, FKM, PE, PA6, POM, PUR and PVC were exposed to heating oil and B20 for 42 and 84 days at 40°C. In addition, the polymers HNBR, FKM, PA, POM and PVC were also exposed at 70°C. Furthermore, the resistance of polymers in eight-year aged B10 at 40°C was evaluated. Ageing of biodiesel increases acidity which might propagate polymer corrosion. The materials were evaluated as resistant, if the loss in tensile properties (tensile strength and elongation at break) and Shore hardness remained under 15% compared to the initial unexposed material values. For investigations under compressed conditions, the compression set was determined for specimensof ACM, FKM and HNBR after exposure in heating oil B0 and B20 for 3,7,14, 28, 56 and 90 days at 40°C according to ISO815-1. It was found that the resistance in B20 at 40°C was given for all tested polymers except PUR. In the 8years aged B10, PUR and POM were not compatible and ACM just conditionally compatible. At 70°C, FKMand PVC were resistant in B20, whereas HNBR and PA6were not compatible. Swelling occurred for the elastomers ACM, HNBR and PUR.

Keywords: Biodiesel, FAME, RME, polymers in fuels