Abstract
In the present paper, the corrosion behavior of 1020 carbon steel in commercial gasoline-ethanol blends was investigated. The composition of each gasoline-ethanol blend was evaluated by infrared spectroscopy, and the ethanol content was determined by the ABNT 13992 reference method. Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) and polarization methods were employed to evaluate corrosion resistance and penetration rates. Statistical analyses revealed that the gasoline’s solution resistance governs the corrosion process, the RON (Research Octane Number) and MON (Motor Octane Number) numbers as well as the olefin content being more related to the corrosion rates. The polarization resistance had minor impact on the corrosion process.
Highlights
Fossil fuel vehicles figure amongst the greatest emitters of air pollutants in urban areas[1]
Despite recent developments on ethanol-compatible fuel systems, gasoline and alcohol blends are customarily used in ordinary vehicles, which are exposed to corrosion on some autoparts[4,9]
All samples indicated conformity with the previously mentioned regulation[12], and their average anhydrous ethanol content was equal to 27 % v/v at a confidence level of 95 %
Summary
Fossil fuel vehicles figure amongst the greatest emitters of air pollutants in urban areas[1]. It is worth mentioning that the use of bioethanol in blends with gasoline is responsible for performance improvements on the automotive ignition system, reduction in pollutant emissions, increasing of the octane number[5], and fuel economy (1.5–5 %) when compared to pure gasoline[6]. Despite recent developments on ethanol-compatible fuel systems (such as flex-fuel vehicles), gasoline and alcohol blends are customarily used in ordinary vehicles, which are exposed to corrosion on some autoparts[4,9]. The corrosive mechanisms in these blends occurs due to the increased conductivity of ethanol in relation to gasoline[10], favoring electrochemical reactions; due to aging of biofuels producing acetic acid from ethanol[2]; or even due to the presence of trace elements with corrosive potential in fuel blends, such as aldehydes, peroxides, ketones, esters, among others[9]. The presence of water in the fuel can occur in situations of inadequate storage of the fuel, given the hygroscopic nature of ethanol, leading to phase separation
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