STUDIES OF JET FUEL ADDITIVES USING THE QUARTZ-CRYSTAL MICROBALANCE AND PRESSURE MONITORING AT 140-DEGREES-C

The quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) and pressure monitoring are used for the evaluation of jet fuel additives for the improvement of jet f uel thermal stability. The mechanisms of additive behavior are determi ne by measuring the time-dependent deposition with the QCM and oxidati on by pressure measurements. Studies at various additive concentration s permits the determination of optimum additive concentrations. Additi ve packages made of mixtures of antioxidants, detergent/dispersants, a nd metal deactivators are shown to yield good improvements in thermal stability over a wide range of jet fuel types.