Material Compatibility

Brass, bronze, copper, lead and zinc will oxidize diesel and biodiesel fuels and create sediments. Lead solders and zinc linings should be avoided, as should copper pipes, brass regulators, and copper fittings. The fuel or the fittings will tend to change color and sediments may form, resulting in plugged fuel filters. Affected equipment should be replaced with stainless steel or aluminium. Acceptable storage tank materials include aluminium, steel, fluorinated polyethylene, fluorinated polypropylene and Teflon.

Table: Material Compatibility with Biodiesel Fuels (2001)

Material	BXX	Effect compared to diesel fuel
Teflon	B100	Little change
Nylon 6/6	B100	Little change
Nitril	B100	Hardness reduced 20 %, Swell increased 18 %
Viton A401-C	B100	Little change
Viton GFLT	B100	Little change
Fluorosilicon	B100	Little change in hardness, Swell increased 7 %
Polyurethane	B100	Little change in hardness, Swell increased 6 %
Polypropylene	B100	Hardness reduced 10 %, Swell increased 8 - 15 %
Polyvinyl	B100	Much Worse
-“-	B50	Worse
-“-	B20	Comparable
Tygon	B100	Worse

National Renewable Energy Laboratory. NREL/TP-580-30004.