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

ABSTRACT

Researchers seek to understand the combustion of petroleum fuel, which contains hundreds of compounds, by studying properties and oxidation behavior of less complex mixtures (surrogates) containing fuel components. In this study, viscosities and densities (293.15 to 343.15 K), speeds of sound (293.15 to 333.15 K), surface tensions (~ 314 K) and flash points were measured for ternary mixtures of representative fuel components: n-alkanes, aromatic compounds, and n-butylcyclohexane. Mixture surface tensions and flashpoints fell between the pure component values. The speeds of sound for ternary mixtures containing n-dodecane and nbutylcyclohexane increased with increasing aromatic compound concentration. Mixtures containing n-hexadecane and n-butylcyclohexane had speeds of sound that decreased with increasing the mole fraction of toluene until a minimum was reached and then increased to toluene s value and remained level or decreased to a minimum upon addition of n-butylbenzene or n-hexylbenzene before increasing. The isentropic bulk moduli increased with increasing aromatic compound concentration, except for toluene where a minimum was found. Excess molar volumes were positive, viscosity deviations were negative, and a McAllister three-body equation successfully modeled viscosity. Positive excess molar volumes and negative dynamic viscosities suggest that dispersion forces dominate the molecular interactions in these mixtures.