Throughout WWII, U.S. Military planners were faced with producing huge quantities of aviation gasoline that could be used by high-powered aircraft engines. The addition of tetraethyl lead and/or xylidine, antiknock agents each with advantages and disadvantages, was a tool available to the fuel specification designers. This is the story of xylidine, a mixture of isomeric amino xylenes and amino ethyl benzenes that, when added to aviation fuel, enhances the rich mixture knock rating. Xylidine was used in a 1% concentration to increase the fuel supply and in a 3% concentration to improve fuel quality. This report was released during April 1945. |