Abstract
The aim of the present work is to evaluate the impact of pure palm biodiesel fuel (B100) and biodiesel blends with 0.32% oleic, palmitic, acetic, myristic, and stearic acids on the properties of some polymeric materials used commonly in the manufacture of auto parts such as the polyamide 66 (PA66), polyoxymethylene (POM), and high-density polyethylene (HDPE). The effects of the B100 and B100–acid blends on polymeric materials were examined by comparing changes in the gain/loss of mass and by measuring the hardness, the impact strength, and the tensile strength of the materials at the end of the exposure. The characterization of the polymers was carried out before and after exposure by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). After the immersion in B100–acids blends, the HDPE exhibited an increase in mass of 5%, which was very similar in all blends. The PA66 showed a small decrease in weight (2% approx.) in all mixtures. The POM presented an increase in the percentage of weight in the mixture of B100 with acetic acid of 0.3%. A decrease was observed in the crystallinity of the HDPE when exposed to blends of B100–acids. This behavior may be associated with a plasticizing effect in the HDPE exposed to the blends. The mechanical properties of POM and HDPE showed no significant changes after immersion in the fuels. On the other hand, PA66 exhibited a significant decrease in maximum stress value after immersion in B100, B100–oleic acid and B100–palmitic acid blends. The variation of the mechanical properties of the PA66 after exposure to B100 was potentiated by addition of organic acids. The assessed polymers did not undergo appreciable changes in the chemical structure of the samples after immersion in the fuels, so the variation in the mechanical properties could be explained by physical absorption of the fuel into the polymers.
Highlights
Biodiesel—a fuel produced from vegetable oils, animal fats, or used cooking oils—has been employed in many countries as a replacement for fossil fuels for use in diesel engines, mainly in transportation and cargo trucks
This work aims to analyze the impact of palm biodiesel and its blends with fatty acids and acetic acids on the properties of three polymeric materials that are commonly found in the fuel system of cars, that is, polyoxymethylene (POM), high density polyethylene (HDPE) and polyamide 66 (PA 66)
According to the results given by the gain/loss mass test, it could be concluded that concluded that the addition of acid species in palm biodiesel did not induce additional absorption of the addition of acid species in palm biodiesel did not induce additional absorption of fuel, other than fuel, other than that caused by pure B100, into the high-density polyethylene (HDPE)
Summary
Biodiesel—a fuel produced from vegetable oils, animal fats, or used cooking oils—has been employed in many countries as a replacement for fossil fuels for use in diesel engines, mainly in transportation and cargo trucks. The principal vegetable oils used to produce biodiesel are jatropha, colza, corn, palm, cotton, sunflower, soybean, and coconut oil. Waste vegetable oil from restaurants, food industry, and residential uses has been used to produce biodiesel [2]. It is not necessary to make appreciable modifications to the structure of diesel engines and storage tanks when biodiesel is present in the diesel fuel [4]. There are some concerns related to the exposure of the parts and materials in the fuel transportation and ignition system in the engines that can be in contact with the biodiesel
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