Techniques to Characterize the Thermal-Oxidation Stability of Jet Fuels and the Effects of Additives

Three techniques integrated into a single instrumented platform allow simultaneous measurement in real time of particle-size growth rate, surface mass-deposition rate, and concentration of dissolved oxygen in thermally stressed jet fuel. Particle growth rate is studied using Photon Correlation Spectroscopy (PCS); surface mass-deposition rate is measured with a Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM); and dissolved-oxygen concentration is monitored by Pyrene Fluorescence Quenching (PFQ). The three techniques have been used simultaneously to study the behavior of a jet fuel undergoing thermal stressing and to evaluate the performance of an anti-oxidant, a dispersant, and a metal deactivator in another jet fuel.Copyright © 1996 by ASME