US EPA

1176680 

Journal Article 

Dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) of barrier materials immersed in automotive fuel components 

Byrne, SB; Mcnally, GM; Mcnally, T; Murphy, WR; SOC PLAST ENGINEERS; SOC PLAST ENGINEERS; SOC PLAST ENGINEERS 

1999 

2373-2377 

WOS:000080784900448 

EC legislation has ordered vehicular hydrocarbon emissions to be drastically reduced by the year 2000. New polymeric materials must be used to manufacture fuel storage / delivery components. Such materials must offer increased barrier performance without loss of mechanical properties.



Samples of poly butylene terephthalate (PBT), two types Di poly vinylidene fluoride (PVdF) and THV, a terpolymer of tetrafluoro ethylene, hexafluoro propylene and vinylidene fluoride, were immersed in pure methanol, ethanol and toluene. The effect of the degree of solvation on the glass transition temperature (T-g) and the storage modulus (E') of each material were measured using dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA).



Significant changes in T-g and E' were evident in each case, but behavioural differences were apparent between different polymers in a given solvent, and also for a given polymer in different solvents. In all cases, the Arrhenius activation energy changed on solvation.