Thermodynamics Research Center / ThermoML | Journal of Chemical and Engineering Data

ABSTRACT

This work reports physical property measurements of binary mixtures of butylbenzene with n-decane, n-dodecane, n-tetradecane, n-hexadecane, or n-heptadecane. Densities and viscosities were measured at temperatures from (293.15 to 373.15) K, and speeds of sound were measured at temperatures from (293.15 to 333.15) K, except for n-heptadecane whose measurements started at 303.15 K. Densities increased with increasing mole fraction of butylbenzene. Excess molar volumes were positive and increased with increasing alkane chain length, except for heptadecane whose values were similar to n-hexadecane. Analysis of excess molar volumes using the Prigogine- Flory-Patterson model showed that the interaction term contributed more to excess molar volume than the free volume or P* term. As the mole fraction of butylbenzene increased, speeds of sound increased for n-decane and n-dodecane mixtures but decreased for other alkane mixtures to values below those of both pure components before increasing again. Viscosities decreased as the mole fraction of butylbenzene increased except for some n-decane mixtures whose values were below those of butylbenzene and n-decane. Viscosity mole fraction data were fit using the three-body McAllister model. Bulk moduli and surface tension increased with increasing mole fraction butylbenzene, and flash points fell between those of the individual components. These mixtures can be used as surrogates for petroleum-based fuels.