Thermal Stability and Oxidation of Hydrocarbon Fuels

Hydrocarbon fuels are widely used in transportation and industry, where they frequently encounter high temperatures that challenge their chemical integrity. Thermal stability refers to the capacity of a fuel to resist decomposition under elevated heat, whereas oxidation describes its reaction with oxygen to form degradation products. Degradation may proceed via autoxidation, involving free-radical chain reactions that produce oxygenated species, or by pyrolysis, where bonds cleave in the absence of oxygen. The primary concern is the formation of insoluble deposits—commonly termed fouling—on critical surfaces such as heat exchanger walls and injector channels. These deposits impede heat transfer, increase pressure drop, and can compromise engine performance and safety. Advances in understanding the molecular origins of stability and tailored fuel processing such as hydrogenation or additive incorporation aim to mitigate these effects. Global efforts focus on optimising fuel composition and system materials to balance thermal performance, environmental impact and operational reliability.

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Thermal Stability and Oxidation of Hydrocarbon Fuels publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in thermal stability and oxidation of hydrocarbon fuels across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Thermal stability: The ability of a fuel to resist chemical breakdown under elevated temperatures without significant formation of degradation products.

Autoxidation: A free-radical chain reaction in which oxygen molecules react with hydrocarbons, leading to oxygenated species and deposit precursors.

Pyrolysis: The thermal decomposition of hydrocarbons in the absence of oxygen, generating smaller molecules and carbonaceous residues.

Fouling (surface deposition): The accumulation of insoluble matter on heat-transfer surfaces, reducing efficiency and potentially causing blockages.

Jet Fuel Thermal Oxidation Test (JFTOT): A standardised method for assessing the oxidative stability of aviation kerosene by flowing fuel through a heated tube and measuring deposit formation.

Dissolved oxygen content: The concentration of oxygen dissolved in a liquid hydrocarbon, influencing the rate and extent of oxidation reactions.

References

1. Jet fuel oxidation on conventionally and additively manufactured metallic tubes. Applied Thermal Engineering (2025).
2. Morphological and Compositional Analysis on Thermal Deposition of Supercritical Aviation Kerosene in Micro Channels. Molecules (2023).
3. Sustainable aviation fuel: Impact of alkene concentration on jet fuel thermal oxidative test (JFTOT). Energy Science & Engineering (2024).