Fuel management system comprising a fluoroelastomer layer having a hydrotalcite compound

Abstract

A component of a fuel management system having a surface that in use will come into contact with fuel. The surface includes a fluoroelastomer layer. The fluoroelastomer layer comprises a hydrotalcite compound dispersed therein.

1 . Component of a fuel management system having a surface that in use will come into contact with fuel, said surface comprising a fluoroelastomer layer comprising a hydrotalcite compound dispersed therein.  
     
     
         2 . Component according to  claim 1  wherein said component comprises a fuel hose and said fluoroelastomer layer constitutes the innermost layer of said fuel hose.  
     
     
         3 . Component according to  claim 1  wherein said component comprises a fuel tank and said fluoroelastomer layer constitutes the innermost layer of said fuel tank.  
     
     
         4 . Component according to  claim 1  wherein said hydrotalcite compound is present in an amount of 0.3 to 20% by weight based on the fluoroelastomer.  
     
     
         5 . Component according to  claim 1  wherein said hydrotalcite compound comprises a synthetic hydrotalcite compound.  
     
     
         6 . Component according to  claim 1  wherein said hydrotalcite compound corresponds to the formula: 
       [(M 1   2+ ) a (M 2   2+ ) b ](M 3+ ) y (OH) 2x+3y−2 (A n− ) y/n wH 2 O 
       wherein M 1   2+  represents at least one divalent metal selected from the group consisting of Mg 2+ , Ca 2+ , Sr 2+  and Ba 2+ ; M 2   2+  represents at least one divalent metal selected from the group consisting of Zn 2+ , Cd 2+ , Pb 2+  and Sn 2+ ; M 3+  represents a trivalent metal ion; A n−  represents an n− valentanion; a and b each independently represents a value from 0 to 10, x represents a+b and has a value from 1 to 10, y represents an integer from 1 to 5, and w represents a real number.  
     
     
         7 . Component according to  claim 1  wherein said component is a multi-layer article comprising a layer of a non-fluorinated elastomer.  
     
     
         8 . Component according to  claim 1  wherein said fluoroelastomer layer comprises the cured product of a curable composition comprising (i) a fluoropolymer having a partially or fully fluorinated backbone and having a halogen capable of participating in a peroxide cure reaction and (ii) an organic peroxide.  
     
     
         9 . Component according to  claim 8  wherein said fluoropolymer is a polymer comprising units deriving from tetrafluoroethylene and/or chlorotrifluoroethylene and one or more fluorinated monomers selected from the group consisting of vinylidene fluoride, hexafluoropropylene and a perfluorinated vinylether.  
     
     
         10 . A method comprising utilizing a hydrotalcite compound in a fluoroelastomer layer of a fuel management component to prevent or reduce swelling of said fluoroelastomer layer when said fluoroelastomer is contacted with a diesel fuel of biological origin.  
     
     
         11 . Method of making a component of a fuel management system comprising: 
 providing a curable fluoroelastomer composition including a fluoropolymer having one or more halogens capable of participating in a cure reaction, an organic peroxide and a hydrotalcite compound; and    curing and shaping said curable fluoroelastomer composition to form a fluoroelastomer layer that in use will be in contact with fuel.