Material Compatibility of Non-Metallic Materials with JP-8+100

摘要

The recent Air Force conversion to JP-8 jet fuel is causing a significant amount of engine fouling and coking which is resulting in added aircraft downtime and maintenance costs. The Air Force Propulsion Directorate accelerated an existing program (JP-8+100) to improve the thermal stability of the fuel by 100deg F. Through mixing in a small amount of an additive, this new fuel will decrease degradation at higher temperatures thus allowing the engine to burn hotter and cleaner. Each additive that is proposed must receive vigorous testing for increased thermal stability, burn rate and material compatibility. Extensive material compatibility testing was performed by the Air Force Materials Directorate with the help of the University of Dayton Research Institute. Testing of non-metallic materials on the first additive (Betz Dearborn 8Q462) is presented here. This additive was found to be compatible with all existing materials. However, a good number of the materials were found to be temperature limited and unable to handle the fuel recycle temperatures of newer aircraft. New research programs are needed to develop higher temperature o-ring materials and bladder innerliner and hose innerliner materials.