Zeitschrift für Materialwissenschaften und Ingenieurwesen

Comparative Study of the Effects of Diesel and Biodiesel Over POM, PPA and PPS Polymers Used in Automotive Industry

Abstract

Gomez-Mares M, Martinez-Ortega ME, Arroyo-Ortega G, Reyes-Blas H, Hernandez-Paz J and Marquez-Marquez C

Energetic needs and environmental concern are causing the evolution of fuels. Biofuels have started to partially replace non-renewable fuels. Among them, Biodiesel has occupied an important place on automotive industry. In the other hand, polymeric materials have substituted metals in some automotive components. Sometimes they are in direct contact with fuels, and then compatibility between polymers and fuels is essential. In this study, the compatibility of three different engineering polymer families, POM, PPA and PPS, is assessed with diesel and SME biodiesel. Polymer samples were exposed to fuel for a 1008h period at 120°C, simulating automotive extreme conditions. Mechanical properties of the specimens were evaluated at different periods of time. Differences on effects of biodiesel and diesel were assessed for the different families and it was found that the effect of biodiesel and diesel over the analyzed polymers is the same for both cases: the mechanical properties are slightly modified.