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A national laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy

Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy

NREL is operated by Midwest Research Institute ● Battelle Contract No. DE-AC36-99-GO10337 

Elastomer Compatibility Testing 

of Renewable Diesel Fuels 

E. Frame 

Southwest Research Institute 

R.L. McCormick 

National Renewable Energy Laboratory 

Technical Report 

NREL/TP-540-38834 

November 2005 
Elastomer Compatibility Testing 

of Renewable Diesel Fuels 

E. Frame 

Southwest Research Institute 

R.L. McCormick 

National Renewable Energy Laboratory 

Prepared under Task No. FC06.9400 

Technical Report 

NREL/TP-540-38834 

November 2005 

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

1617 Cole Boulevard, Golden, Colorado 80401-3393

303-275-3000 • www.nrel.gov

Operated for the U.S. Department of Energy

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

by Midwest Research Institute • Battelle 

Contract No. DE-AC36-99-GO10337
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Table of Contents

Summary and Introduction ................................................................................................. 1 

Test Details......................................................................................................................... 1 

Results................................................................................................................................. 2 

Conclusions......................................................................................................................... 3 

Reference ............................................................................................................................ 4 

Appendix A: Certificate of Analysis—Diesel .05 LS Cert Fuel (#2)................................. 5 

Appendix B: Raw Data, Data with Outliers Removed, Calculated Values, and Plots....... 7 

Appendix C: Bar Graphs with 95% Confidence Bands.................................................... 11 

iii
Summary and Introduction 

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Fuels Technologies Program, under the DOE 

FreedomCAR and Vehicle Technologies Program, is charged with performing research to 

eliminate technical barriers to market penetration of renewable and synthetic fuels. One 

aspect of this program is to ensure that blends of petroleum-derived fuels and renewable 

fuels can be utilized without negative impact on engine durability. Materials 

compatibility is an important component of this research. The blending of renewable 

components, such as biodiesel or ethanol, into diesel fuel may impact the integrity and 

performance of various fuel system elastomers. The Southwest Research Institute 

conducted this work for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) as part of a 

program to determine how ethanol and biodiesel affect these materials. 

Six elastomers (N1059, N674, N0497, V747, and V884) commonly used in automotive 

applications were tested with the following fuels: 

• Certification diesel fuel 

• Certification diesel fuel blended with 15% ethanol 

• Certification diesel fuel blended with 20% soy-derived biodiesel. 

The elastomers were examined for thickness, diameter, and break load both before and 

after soaking in these fuels for 500 hours at 40°C. Additionally, a control set was 

exposed to dry air only for the same length of time. 

The results indicate that all of these elastomers appear to be fully compatible with 20% 

biodiesel blends. Overall, for each elastomer type, the ethanol-containing fuel had the 

largest impact on elastomer properties after storage. Thus these elastomers may not be 

fully compatible in all applications with fuels containing 15% ethanol. 

Test Details 

The following fuels were included in the investigation: 

1. Fuel designated CL02-576, which was a certification diesel fuel with 29.2%vol 

aromatics and 346 ppm sulfur. Appendix A features a certificate of analysis for 

this fuel. 

2. Fuel CL02-577 was a blend of 15%vol ethanol and 85%vol certification diesel 

fuel (E15). The fuel-grade ethanol was supplied by NREL. 

3. Fuel CL02-578 was a blend of 20%vol soy-biodiesel (B20) and 80%vol 

certification diesel fuel. The B-100 used for the blend was Soy Gold (AL-25842). 

4. No fuel; a set of samples were exposed to air only and served as a baseline. 

Both the biodiesel and fuel-grade ethanol met applicable ASTM standards. 

The test matrix of elastomers (all tested as O-rings) included:

• N674 general purpose nitrile rubber 

• N0497 high aceto-nitrile content rubber for better fuel resistance 

1
• N1059 peroxide-cured nitrile rubber 

• V747 flourocarbon filled with carbon black 

• V884 flourocarbon without carbon black. 

These elastomers were chosen because they were the same used in a prior study of 

various fuel oxygenates [1]. 

All elastomer tests were performed using four specimens, so any outliers could be 

removed based on statistics or engineering judgment. The elastomers stored in fuel were 

exposed for 500 hours at 40°C. The baseline samples were only exposed to ambient 

laboratory room temperature. The following measurements were made after storage on all 

samples: 

• O-ring thickness 

• O-ring inside diameter 

• Break load 

• Sample volume and tensile strength, calculated from the primary measurements. 

Results 

Appendix B includes raw data, data with outliers removed, calculated values, and plots. 

No individual sample results were dropped based on statistical considerations; however, 

the following three tests were removed based on engineering judgment because their 

break loads were unusually low: 

• Sample 1 of N1059 in B20 (CL02-578) 

• Sample 4 of V747 in E15 (CL02-577) 

• Sample 2 of V884 in B20 (CL02-578). 

It is interesting to note that no outliers were observed or rejected for elastomers soaked in 

the baseline diesel fuel. 

Bar graphs with 95% confidence bands are presented for the following parameters in

Appendix C: 

• Break load 

• Break stress 

• O-ring inside diameter 

• O-ring thickness 

• O-ring volume. 

The following statistically significant differences were observed within each elastomer 

type. 

N1059 Peroxide-Cured Nitrile Rubber 

The average break load and corresponding break stress were lowest when exposed to the 

ethanol-containing fuel. Compared to the baseline, break load was reduced by 32%. The 

results with baseline fuel, biodiesel, and air were not significantly different. 

2
O-ring volume was the lowest for the samples stored in air, as well as for the samples 

stored in the fuels. With this elastomer, each fuel type produced the same level of swell 

(approximately 18% compared to the baseline). 

N674 General Purpose Nitrile Rubber 

The average break load and stress was the lowest for samples exposed to the ethanolcontaining fuel (37% less than baseline). Similar break load and stress values were 

observed with the base fuel and biodiesel. Samples exposed to air had the highest break 

load and stress. 

O-ring volume was lowest for samples exposed to air. Samples exposed to base fuel and 

biodiesel had the same level of increased volume (approximately 14%-18%), while the 

samples exposed to the ethanol-containing fuel had the largest volume increased 

compared to the baseline (35%). 

N0497 High Aceto-Nitrile Content Rubber 

Trends similar to N674 were observed. Break load was 13% lower for ethanol-exposed 

samples, and volume increase was 11% compared to baseline. The results with baseline 

fuel, biodiesel, and air were not significantly different. 

V747 Flourocarbon Filled with Carbon Black 

The average break load and stress were substantially lower for the samples exposed to 

ethanol (32% compared to baseline). O-ring volume increase was highest with the 

ethanol-containing fuel (7%). The results with base fuel, biodiesel, and air were the same

statistically.

V884 Flourocarbon without Carbon Black 

Trends similar to V747 were observed. Compared to baseline, break load was reduced by 

28%, and volume increase was 10% for the fuel containing ethanol. The results with 

baseline fuel, biodiesel, and air were not significantly different. 

Conclusions 

In general the samples exposed to only air exhibited higher break load than samples 

exposed to any of the fuels. Samples exposed to the ethanol-diesel blend exhibited a 

significant reduction in break load for all elastomers except N0497. Samples exposed to 

B20 did not exhibit significantly different break load from those exposed to the baseline 

fuel. These observations are mirrored in the calculated break stress. O-ring dimensions 

and volume typically increase for O-rings soaked in fuel relative to the air-exposed 

controls. The largest increase in dimensions and volume is observed for the ethanoldiesel blends. Elastomers exposed to B20 did not exhibit significantly different 

dimensions or volume from those exposed to the baseline diesel fuel. 

The results indicate that all of these elastomers appear to be fully compatible with 20% 

biodiesel blends. Overall, for each elastomer type, the fuel containing ethanol had the 

3
largest impact on elastomer properties after storage. Thus these elastomers may not be 

fully compatible in all applications with fuels containing 15% ethanol. 

Reference 

1. Natarajan, M.; González, M.A.; Frame, E.A.; Naegeli, D.W.; Liney, E.; Asmus, T.; 

Piel, W.; Clark, W.; Wallace III, J.P; Garbak, J. “Oxygenates for Advanced PetroleumBased Diesel Fuels: Part 1. Screening and Selection Methodology for the Oxygenates” 

Society of Automotive Engineers Technical Paper No. 2001-01-3631; 2001. 

4
Appendix A: 

Certificate of Analysis—Diesel .05 LS Cert Fuel (#2) 

5

Appendix B: 

Raw Data, Data with Outliers Removed, 

Calculated Values, and Plots 

7
thickness 

Average 95% C.I. 

Volume Volume 

Std dev 95% C I Std dev 95% C I Average 

Inside Outside O-ring Break Break Break Break Break Break Break 

Elastomer Fuel Specimen ID Diameter 

(in) 

Diameter 

(in) 

Diameter 

(in) 

Load 

(lbs) 

Load 

(lbs) 

Load 

(lbs) 

Stress 

(psi) 

Stress 

(psi) 

Stress 

(psi) 

Stress 

(psi) 

Volume 

(in^3) 

1 1.034 1.182 0.0743 14.08 1626 0.015078 

CL02-576 2 

3 

1.033 

1.031 

1.182 

1.180 

0.0746 

0.0745 

16.83 

16.58 1.26 1.24 

1927 

1904 140 138 1803 0.015199 0.015135 

4 1.036 1.185 0.0746 15.36 1756 0.015262 

1 1.072 1.226 0.0774 12.55 1336 0.016967 

N674 CL02-577 2 

3 

1.075 

1.068 

1.231 

1.227 

0.0782 

0.0791 

11.83 

13.30 1.14 1.11 

1231 

1353 116 113 1255 0.017415 0.017726 

4 1.068 1.225 0.0784 10.63 1102 0.017384 

1 1.029 1.177 0.0740 15.36 1785 0.014916 

CL02-578 2 

3 

1.029 

1.031 

1.176 

1.174 

0.0734 

0.0722 

15.37 

14.66 3.07 3.01 

1816 

1792 28 28 1811 0.014666 0.014175 

4 1.029 1.177 0.0740 15.91 1848 0.014926 

1 1.185 1.324 0.0694 12.48 1648 0.014928 

CL02-576 2 

3 

1.180 

1.182 

1.321 

1.323 

0.0705 

0.0703 

12.26 

12.22 0.12 0.12 

1572 

1575 35 34 1598 0.015328 0.015269 

4 1.188 1.329 0.0702 12.38 1598 0.015317 

1 1.225 1.372 0.0734 11.28 1335 0.017248 

N0497 CL02-577 2 

3 

1.225 

1.230 

1.372 

1.366 

0.0735 

0.0682 

11.39 

11.01 0.16 0.16 

1343 

1507 436 427 1392 0.017311 0.014905 

4 1.219 1.363 0.0718 11.19 1384 0.016403 

1 1.185 1.323 0.0694 11.80 1559 0.014918 

CL02-578 2 

3 

1.189 

1.173 

1.330 

1.314 

0.0708 

0.0705 

12.00 

12.49 0.31 0.30 

1527 

1601 34 33 1570 0.015558 0.015247 

4 1.175 1.315 0.0701 12.29 1592 0.015104 

1 1.243 1.386 0.0713 16.59 2078 0.016491 

CL02-576 2 

3 

1.238 

1.242 

1.383 

1.385 

0.0730 

0.0714 

17.36 

17.66 2.56 2.51 

2074 

2206 347 341 1948 0.017239 0.016527 

4 1.248 1.395 0.0735 12.16 1435 0.017599 

1 1.282 1.429 0.0733 9.34 1106 0.017993 

N1059 CL02-577 2 

3 

1.283 

1.276 

1.423 

1.421 

0.0703 

0.0726 

12.79 

12.10 1.52 1.49 

1649 

1464 227 223 1421 0.016494 0.017509 

4 1.275 1.419 0.0722 11.99 1465 0.017325 

1 1.232 1.369 0.0688 6.97 939 0.015172 

CL02-578 2 

3 

1.242 

1.241 

1.382 

1.384 

0.0702 

0.0715 

16.84 

18.15 5.00 4.90 

2179 

2260 605 593 1798 0.015934 0.016567 

4 1.238 1.382 0.0718 14.69 1815 0.016664 

1 0.863 1.001 0.0693 13.91 1845 0.011044 

CL02-576 2 

3 

0.874 

0.868 

1.008 

1.008 

0.0669 

0.0702 

13.73 

14.51 0.36 0.35 

1953 

1877 183 179 1854 0.010397 0.011394 

4 0.863 1.005 0.0710 13.77 1742 0.011603 

1 0.898 1.041 0.0718 9.88 1222 0.012321 

V747 CL02-577 2 

3 

0.893 

0.900 

1.033 

1.041 

0.0700 

0.0707 

9.41 

9.66 3.59 3.51 

1223 

1232 453 444 999 0.011643 0.011955 

4 0.900 1.041 0.0705 2.49 319 0.011909 

1 0.861 1.007 0.0731 15.02 1789 0.012324 

CL02-578 2 

3 

0.854 

0.875 

1.001 

1.011 

0.0736 

0.0684 

14.32 

13.76 0.56 0.55 

1685 

1871 83 81 1798 0.012393 0.010901 

4 0.871 1.010 0.0693 13.93 1848 0.011141 

1 0.986 1.124 0.0688 13.21 1778 0.012319 

CL02-576 2 

3 

0.981 

0.992 

1.120 

1.130 

0.0695 

0.0693 

13.00 

13.46 0.19 0.18 

1712 

1784 37 36 1749 0.012536 0.012579 

4 0.993 1.133 0.0700 13.25 1723 0.01285 

1 1.008 1.151 0.0719 10.28 1266 0.013783 

V884 CL02-577 2 

3 

1.013 

1.015 

1.154 

1.164 

0.0709 

0.0743 

9.93 

10.10 0.37 0.36 

1259 

1164 54 53 1215 0.013433 0.014856 

4 1.015 1.158 0.0716 9.43 1173 0.013733 

1 0.991 1.125 0.0668 12.82 1833 0.011634 

CL02-578 2 

3 

0.987 

0.988 

1.127 

1.123 

0.0698 

0.0675 

6.30 

13.21 3.43 3.36 

823 

1848 494 484 1559 0.012721 0.01186 

4 0.988 1.128 0.0702 13.40 1733 0.012855 

Air 1 0.990 1.132 0.0708 19.4 0.11 0.11 2463 43 42.00 0.013114 

N647 2 

3 

0.989 

0.991 

1.130 

1.130 

0.0704 

0.0696 

19.2 

19.4 

2465 

2555 2495 0.01295 0.012678 

4 0.990 1.130 0.0702 19.3 2496 0.012877 

Air 1 1.174 1.313 0.0695 12.9 0.54 0.53 1705 75 73.58 0.014821 

N0497 2 

3 

1.169 

1.167 

1.308 

1.307 

0.0698 

0.0699 

12.6 

12.5 

1651 

1630 1696 0.014877 0.014926 

4 1.175 1.315 0.0697 13.7 1799 0.014916 

Air 1 1.176 1.311 0.0677 19.5 2.05 2.01 2710 374 366.57 0.014062 

N1059 2 

3 

1.168 

1.171 

1.303 

1.312 

0.0673 

0.0703 

17.4 

14.5 

2444 

1872 2276 0.013805 0.015156 

4 1.168 1.310 0.0712 16.5 2077 0.015492 

Air 1 0.865 1.005 0.0701 15.2 0.49 0.48 1968 77 75.75 0.011328 

V747 2 

3 

0.866 

0.864 

1.004 

1.004 

0.0692 

0.0697 

14.7 

14.4 

1953 

1886 1901 0.011052 0.011202 

4 0.860 1.001 0.0704 14.0 1799 0.011386 

Air 1 0.988 1.126 0.0687 14.4 0.65 0.64 1943 119 116.47 0.012325 

V884 2 

3 

0.989 

0.985 

1.130 

1.124 

0.0704 

0.0696 

13.0 

14.3 

1676 

1884 1818 0.012944 0.012615 

4 0.992 1.132 0.0701 13.7 1768 0.012888 

(in^3) (in^3) 

0.015169 6.65E-05 

0.017373 0.00026 

0.014671 0.000294 

0.015211 0.000159 

0.016466 0.000935 

0.015207 0.000226 

0.016964 0.000456 

0.01733 0.000521 

0.016084 0.000575 

0.011109 0.000441 

0.011957 0.000233 

0.01169 0.00065 

0.012571 0.000182 

0.013951 0.00052 

0.012267 0.00051 

0.012905 0.000151 

0.014885 3.98E-05 

0.014629 0.000686 

0.011242 0.000124 

0.012693 0.000238 
OUTLIERS 

thickness 

Elastomer Fuel Specimen ID 

Inside 

Diameter 

(in) 

Outside 

Diameter 

(in) 

O-ring 

Diameter 

(in) 

Break 

Load 

(lbs) 

Std dev 

Break 

Load 

(lbs) 

95% C I 

Break 

Load 

(lbs) 

Break 

Stress 

(psi) 

Std dev 

Break 

Stress 

(psi) 

95% C I 

Break 

Stress 

(psi) 

Average 

Break 

Stress 

(psi) 

Break 

Stress 

T 

Volume 

(in^3) 

Average 

Volume 

(in^3) 

95% C.I. 

Volume 

(in^3) 

N674 CL02-576 1 1.034 1.182 0.0743 14.08 1626 -1.26 0.015078 

2 1.033 1.182 0.0746 16.83 1927 0.88 0.015199 3 1.031 1.180 0.0745 16.58 1.26 1.24 1904 140 138 1803 0.72 0.015135 0.015169 7.80268E-05 4 1.036 1.185 0.0746 15.36 1756 138 -0.34 0.015262 

CL02-577 1 1.072 1.226 0.0774 12.55 1336 0.016967 

2 1.075 1.231 0.0782 11.83 1231 0.017415 3 1.068 1.227 0.0791 13.30 1.14 1.11 1353 116 113 1255 0.017726 0.017373 0.000305667 

4 1.068 1.225 0.0784 10.63 1102 -1.33 0.017384 

CL02-578 1 1.029 1.177 0.0740 15.36 1785 0.014916 

2 1.029 1.176 0.0734 15.37 1816 0.014666 3 1.031 1.174 0.0722 14.66 2.58 2.52 1792 28 28 1811 0.014175 0.014671 0.000344597 

4 1.029 1.177 0.0740 15.91 1848 0.014926 

Air 1 0.990 1.132 0.0708 19.4 2463 0.013114 

2 0.989 1.130 0.0704 19.2 2465 0.01295 3 0.991 1.130 0.0696 19.4 0.11 0.11 2555 43 42.00 2495 0.012678 0.012905 0.000177505 

4 0.990 1.130 0.0702 19.3 2496 0.012877 

N0497 CL02-576 1 1.185 1.324 0.0694 12.48 1648 0.014928 

2 1.180 1.321 0.0705 12.26 1572 0.015328 3 1.182 1.323 0.0703 12.22 0.12 0.12 1575 35 34 1598 0.015269 0.015211 0.000186108 

4 1.188 1.329 0.0702 12.38 1598 0.015317 

CL02-577 1 1.225 1.372 0.0734 11.28 1335 0.017248 

2 1.225 1.372 0.0735 11.39 1343 0.017311 3 1.230 1.366 0.0682 11.01 0.16 0.16 1507 115 113 1392 1.00 0.014905 0.016466 0.001097997 

4 1.219 1.363 0.0718 11.19 1384 0.016403 

CL02-578 1 1.185 1.323 0.0694 11.80 1559 0.014918 

2 1.189 1.330 0.0708 12.00 1527 0.015558 3 1.173 1.314 0.0705 12.49 0.31 0.30 1601 34 33 1570 0.015247 0.015207 0.000264984 

4 1.175 1.315 0.0701 12.29 1592 28 0.015104 

Air 1 1.174 1.313 0.0695 12.9 1705 0.014821 

2 1.169 1.308 0.0698 12.6 1651 0.014877 3 1.167 1.307 0.0699 12.5 0.54 0.53 1630 75 73.58 1696 0.014926 0.014885 4.67679E-05 4 1.175 1.315 0.0697 13.7 1799 0.014916 

N1059 CL02-576 1 1.243 1.386 0.0713 16.59 2078 0.016491 

2 1.238 1.383 0.0730 17.36 2074 0.017239 3 1.242 1.385 0.0714 17.66 2.56 2.51 2206 347 341 1948 0.016527 0.016964 0.000534857 

4 1.248 1.395 0.0735 12.16 1435 -1.48 0.017599 

CL02-577 1 1.282 1.429 0.0733 9.34 1106 -1.39 0.017993 

2 1.283 1.423 0.0703 12.79 1649 0.016494 3 1.276 1.421 0.0726 12.10 1.52 1.49 1464 227 223 1421 0.017509 0.01733 0.000521499 

4 1.275 1.419 0.0722 11.99 1465 0.017325 

CL02-578 1 1.232 1.369 0.0688 

2 1.242 1.382 0.0702 16.84 2179 0.015934 3 1.241 1.384 0.0715 18.15 1.75 1.71 2260 237 232 2084 0.016567 0.016388 0.000382348 4 1.238 1.382 0.0718 14.69 1815 0.016664 

Air 1 1.176 1.311 0.0677 19.5 2710 0.014062 

2 1.168 1.303 0.0673 17.4 2444 0.013805 3 1.171 1.312 0.0703 14.5 2.05 2.01 1872 374 366.57 2276 0.015156 0.014629 0.000804831 

4 1.168 1.310 0.0712 16.5 2077 0.015492 

V747 CL02-576 1 0.863 1.001 0.0693 13.91 1845 0.011044 

2 0.874 1.008 0.0669 13.73 1953 0.010397 3 0.868 1.008 0.0702 14.51 0.36 0.35 1877 316 310 1854 0.011394 0.011109 0.000517376 

4 0.863 1.005 0.0710 13.77 1742 0.011603 

CL02-577 1 0.898 1.041 0.0718 9.88 1222 0.012321 

2 0.893 1.033 0.0700 9.41 1223 0.011643 3 0.900 1.041 0.0707 9.66 0.24 0.23 1232 6 6 1226 0.011955 0.011973 0.000384081 

4 0.900 1.041 0.0705 

CL02-578 1 0.861 1.007 0.0731 15.02 1789 0.012324 

2 0.854 1.001 0.0736 14.32 1685 0.012393 3 0.875 1.011 0.0684 13.76 0.56 0.55 1871 83 81 1798 0.010901 0.01169 0.00076343 

4 0.871 1.010 0.0693 13.93 1848 0.011141 

Air 1 0.865 1.005 0.0701 15.2 1968 0.011328 

2 0.866 1.004 0.0692 14.7 1953 0.011052 3 0.864 1.004 0.0697 14.4 0.49 0.48 1886 77 75.75 1901 0.011202 0.011242 0.000144988 

4 0.860 1.001 0.0704 14.0 1799 0.011386 

V884 CL02-576 1 0.986 1.124 0.0688 13.21 1778 0.012319 

2 0.981 1.120 0.0695 13.00 1712 0.012536 3 0.992 1.130 0.0693 13.46 0.19 0.18 1784 37 36 1749 0.012579 0.012571 0.00021365 

4 0.993 1.133 0.0700 13.25 1723 0.01285 

CL02-577 1 1.008 1.151 0.0719 10.28 1266 0.013783 

2 1.013 1.154 0.0709 9.93 1259 0.013433 3 1.015 1.164 0.0743 10.10 0.37 0.36 1164 54 53 1215 0.014856 0.013951 0.000610001 

4 1.015 1.158 0.0716 9.43 1173 0.013733 

CL02-578 1 0.991 1.125 0.0668 12.82 1833 0.011634 

2 0.987 1.127 0.0698 3 0.988 1.123 0.0675 13.21 0.30 0.29 1848 62.59 61 1805 0.01186 0.012116 0.000734811 

4 0.988 1.128 0.0702 13.40 1733 0.012855 

Air 1 0.988 1.126 0.0687 14.4 1943 0.012325 

2 0.989 1.130 0.0704 13.0 1676 0.012944 3 0.985 1.124 0.0696 14.3 0.65 0.64 1884 119 116.47 1818 0.012615 0.012693 0.000279043 

4 0.992 1.132 0.0701 13.7 1768 0.012888 

avg 

id 

in 

1.033 

95%CI 

id 

in 

0.001661 

avg 

thickness 

in 

0.074 

95%CI 

thickness 

in 

0.000164 

1.071 0.003092 0.078 0.000709 

1.030 0.000702 0.073 0.00086 

0.990 0.000775 0.070 0.000476 

1.184 0.003321 0.070 0.000445 

1.225 0.004176 0.072 0.002409 

1.180 0.007388 0.070 0.000561 1.171 0.004006 0.070 0.000178 

1.243 0.004292 0.072 0.001079 

1.279 

1.240 

0.004061 

0.014909 

0.072 

0.071 

0.001266 

0.001239 

1.171 0.003557 0.069 0.001886 

0.867 0.005321 0.069 0.001714 

0.897 0.003164 0.071 0.000727 

0.865 0.009136 0.071 0.002566 

0.864 0.002365 0.070 0.000497 

0.988 0.005334 0.069 0.000494 

1.013 0.003421 0.072 0.001471 

0.989 0.001911 0.069 0.001671 

0.989 0.003021 0.070 0.000704 
0-ring Condition 

Average 

Break Load 

(lbs) 

Std. Dev. 

Break Load 

(lbs) 

95% Conf. Int. Average 

Break Load Break Stress 

(lbs) (psi) 

Std. Dev. 95% Conf. Int. 

Break Stress Break Stress 

(psi) (psi) 

N1059 CL02-576 15.94 2.56 2.51 1948 347 341 

CL02-577 11.56 1.52 1.49 1421 227 223 CL02-578 16.56 1.75 1.71 2084 237 232 Air 16.98 2.05 2.01 2276 374 367 

N674 CL02-576 15.71 1.26 1.24 1803 140 138 

CL02-577 12.08 1.14 1.11 1255 116 113 CL02-578 15.33 2.58 2.52 1811 28 28 Air 19.32 0.11 0.11 2495 43 42 

NO497 CL02-576 12.34 0.12 0.12 1598 35 34 

CL02-577 11.22 0.16 0.16 1392 115 113 CL02-578 12.15 0.31 0.30 1570 34 33 Air 12.95 0.54 0.53 1696 75 74 

V747 CL02-576 13.98 0.36 0.35 1854 316 310 

CL02-577 9.65 0.24 0.23 1226 6 6 CL02-578 14.26 0.56 0.55 1798 83 81 Air 14.56 0.49 0.48 1901 77 76 

V884 CL02-576 13.23 0.19 0.18 1749 37 36 

CL02-577 9.94 0.37 0.36 1215 54 53 CL02-578 13.14 0.30 0.29 1805 63 61 Air 13.8575 0.65 0.64 1818 119 116 

0-ring Exposure 

Average 

Inside 

Diameter 

(in) 

95% Conf. Int. 

Inside 

Diameter 

(in) 

Average 

O-ring 

Thickness 

(in) 

95% Conf. Int. 

O-ring 

Thickness 

(in) 

Average 

Break Load 

(lbs) 

95% Conf. Int. 

Break Load 

(lbs) 

Average 

Break Stress 

(psi) 

95% Conf. 

Break Stre

(psi) 

N1059 CL02-576 1.243 0.004292 0.072 0.001079 15.94 2.51 1948.3 34

CL02-577 1.279 0.004061 0.072 0.001266 11.56 1.49 1421.0 22

CL02-578 1.240 0.014909 0.071 0.001239 16.56 1.71 2084.4 23

Air 1.171 0.003557 0.069 0.001886 16.98 2.01 2275.7 36

N674 CL02-576 1.033 0.001661 0.074 0.000164 15.71 1.24 1803.4 13

CL02-577 1.071 0.003092 0.078 0.000709 12.08 1.11 1255.4 11

CL02-578 1.030 0.000702 0.073 0.000860 15.33 2.52 1810.6 2

Air 0.990 0.000775 0.070 0.000476 19.32 0.11 2494.8 4

NO497 CL02-576 1.184 0.003321 0.070 0.000445 12.34 0.12 1598.4 3

CL02-577 1.225 0.004176 0.072 0.002409 11.22 0.16 1392.0 11

CL02-578 1.180 0.007388 0.070 0.000561 12.15 0.30 1569.8 3

Air 1.171 0.004006 0.070 0.000178 12.95 0.53 1696.4 7

V747 CL02-576 0.867 0.005321 0.069 0.001714 13.98 0.35 1854.4 30

CL02-577 0.897 0.003164 0.071 0.000727 9.65 0.23 1225.5 

CL02-578 0.865 0.009136 0.071 0.002566 14.26 0.55 1798.3 8

Air 0.864 0.002365 0.070 0.000497 14.56 0.48 1901.4 7

V884 CL02-576 0.988 0.005334 0.069 0.000494 13.23 0.18 1749.2 3

CL02-577 1.013 0.003421 0.072 0.001471 9.94 0.36 1215.2 5

CL02-578 0.989 0.001911 0.068 0.001671 13.14 0.29 1804.7 6

Air 0.989 0.003021 0.070 0.000704 13.86 0.64 1817.7 11
Appendix C: 

Bar Graphs with 95% Confidence Bands 

11
Break Load, (lbs

) 

25 20 15 10 

5 0 

N1059 N674 NO497 V747 

Elastomer Number 

D2 E15 (E-DIESEB20 Air
Break Stress, (psi

) 

3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 

500 

0 

N1059 N674 NO497 V747 

Elastomer Number 

D2 E15 (E-DB20 Air
0.0 

0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4 

O-Ring Inside Diameter, (in.) 

D2 B20 

N1059 N674 NO497 V747 

Elastomer Numbe

r 
O-Ring Thickness, (in.) 

0.060 0.062 0.064 0.066 0.068 0.070 0.072 0.074 0.076 0.078 0.080 

Air

N1059 N674 NO497 V747 

Elastomer Number 

B20D2 E15 (E-DIE
0.000 

0.002 0.004 0.006 0.008 0.010 0.012 0.014 0.016 0.018 0.020 

O-Ring Volume, (in.^3) 

D2 B20 

N1059 N674 NO497 V747 

Elastomer Numbe

r 
F1147-E(12/2004) 

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4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE

Elastomer Compatibility Testing of Renewable Diesel Fuels 

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NREL/TP-540-38834 

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FC06.9400 

6. AUTHOR(S)

E. Frame 

Southwest Research Institute 

R.L. McCormick 

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National Renewable Energy Laboratory 

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14. ABSTRACT (Maximum 200 Words)

In this study, the integrity and performance of six elastomers were tested with ethanol-diesel and biodiesel fuel 

blends. 

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elastomers; ethanol-diesel; biodiesel; renewable diesel; fuel blends; elastomer compability 

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