New and proposed air emissions regulations at the state and federal level are continuing to drive automotive engineers to improve fuel systems. These efforts often include the use of oxygenated fuels, and fuel systems which are more resistant to permeation of many fuel types. This study compares the fuel permeabilities of several fluoropolymers and nylon in fuel C, methanol, and blends of 80% fuel C with methanol, MTBE, and ETBE.
The findings of this study include: fuel permeation rates through fluoropolymer hose are very low and much better than through nylon; fluoropolymer hose has low selective permeability to fuel blend components; permeation rates of oxygenated fuel blends through fluoropolymer hose are not significantly different than for fuel C; and electrically conductive additive does not significantly affect the fuel permeability of fluoropolymer hose.
