An Overview of Corrosion Performance of Automotive Metals in Biodiesel

This paper reviews the significance of biodiesel over fossil fuel and its effects of corrosion on the engine parts that come in contact with a biodiesel fuel. Biodiesel seemed to degrade due to auto-oxidation and presence of moisture to secondary products that enhanced the corrosion rate. The problem related to the use of noncompatible materials as engine parts for biodiesel-run vehicles is dual in nature. The engine part in contact with the fuel is corroded as a result of fuel degradation, causing the fuel to go further off-specification. Biodiesel is more susceptible to oxidation, microbiological attack and sensitive to temperature and humidity changes, which cause variation in pH and water content. These conditions increase their corrosion and degradation effects on materials comprised in the systems implemented. Therefore, this paper aims to provide an overview and analysis of the challenges and the materials proposed for the biodiesel supply.