High density polyethylene and butanol-gasoline blends: A material compatibility study

We are now well on the path of transitioning away from the fossil fuel resources on cutting down their consumption as much as possible. The fuels chosen for this study include ethanol-butanol (EB) -gasoline, acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE) -gasoline and methanol-butanol (MB) -gasoline blends. High density polyethylene (HDPE) is a polymer that is extensively used in several auto parts and fuelling infrastructure materials. Incompatibility between these blends and fueling infrastructure system should be studied comprehensively for the adoption of these alternative fuels to be faster and hassle free. This study intends to gauge the changes in HDPE because of its immersion in the gasoline-alcohol blends mentioned for a period of 4, 30 & 90 days. The changes were ascertained by studying the mass, tensile strength, elongation, and hardness of the samples before and after immersion into blends. Sophisticated techniques were used to characterize the morphological and chemical changes of the polymer. The results showed that there was an increase in the mass of the HDPE samples as a result of the absorption of the blends by the polymeric samples. A decrease in tensile strength and hardness values were recorded for the samples whereas the elongation values were found to increase. Studies revealed that there was neither fuel degradation nor any oxidative degradation of the polymeric sample. The results indicated an increase in the mass and elongation of the HDPE as a result of the absorption of the fuel leads to lesser stable polymeric matrix and decrease in the percentage crystallinity. Hence this investigation led us to the conclusion that all the fuels blends studied are highly compatible with HDPE, even in instances where a change in the mechanical properties is seen, it is similar to that seen in gasoline.