Material Compatibility Testing (MCT) for Metals & Coatings in 10% Ethanol Blended Gasoline (E10)

It is essential to address the material compatibility issues to use ethanol blended petrol (EBP) in vehicles especially for vintage vehicles for their components reliability due to corrosion effect. Material compatibility testing (MCT) is a common practice to study the corrosion effect of blended fuel on metals & coatings. 

 There are several corrosion test methods such SAE J 1647, ASTM G-31 and corrosion wheel test which can be used for Material Compatibility Testing (MCT). However in view of issues pertaining to vehicles SAE recommended test method SAE J 1647 is more appropriate for MCT. The present MCT study was carried out using coupons of metals & coating materials used in automotives for 10% EBP using SAE J 1647.

 The MCT was carried out on test coupons exposed to 10% EBP at 45⁰C continuously for 3months.  The exposed coupons were evaluated for change in appearance and weight loss intermediately during the testing and also at the end of the testing as per the testing protocol. The study revealed physical appearance change in Brass and copper coupons with 10%EBP in comparison with the non-blended petrol. However no effect on rest of the metals & coatings for corrosion rate, weight loss & appearance had been observed in comparison with non-blended petrol. These findings indicate that there exists material compatibility up to 10%EBP for the studied metals & coatings.