For more than 20 years, the automotive industry has been setting higher safety and environmental standards. In fuel lines, the substitution of plastics parts for metal has introduced a risk of explosion in fuel systems because of electrostatic discharge (ESD). ESD phenomena can arise during the flowing of fuel in the fuel delivery system to the engine.
To prevent ESD in fuel lines, engineers are using Nanocyl Carbon Nanotubes in fuel pumps, fuel filter housings, fuel line connectors, fuel line clips, fuel reservoirs, fuel filler pockets and related electronic housings.
Requirements
According to the SAE International Standards (http://www.sae.org), the volume resistance of fuel line components should not exceed 1X10^4-1X10^6 Ohm/square. The components must have the right resistances for long-term fuel exposure and high temperature conditions.
Advantages
When added to the polymer, CNTs offer:
- Precise control of electrical conductivity at very low concentrations
- Weigh reduction
- Dimensional stability at high temperatures
- Smooth surface finishing due to extremely low loading vs. alternative conductive fillers
- High retention of mechanical strength at room temperatures and at very cold temperatures because of low concentrations of nanotubes
- Stable conductivity in long-term exposure to sour gas and diesel fuel
