Ministry of Defence

Defence Standard 68-252

Issue 3 Publication Date 26 September 2005

Fuel System Icing Inhibitor

NATO Code: S-1745
Joint Service Designation: AL-41

Reprinted 31 March 2006 to

incorporate Amendment 1

DEF STAN 68-252 Issue 3

Contents
Foreword .................................................................................................................................................................... iii
1

Scope .............................................................................................................................................................. 1

Warning .......................................................................................................................................................... 1

Related Documents ....................................................................................................................................... 1

Materials and Composition........................................................................................................................... 1

Product Compliance...................................................................................................................................... 2

Testing ............................................................................................................................................................ 2

Keeping Qualities .......................................................................................................................................... 2

Containers and Marking of Containers ....................................................................................................... 2

ANNEX A Alternative Test Methods and Technically Equivalent ISO Test Methods ......................................... 5
ANNEX B Normative References ............................................................................................................................. 6

Tables
Table 1 - Test Requirements ..................................................................................................................................... 4
Table 2 - Alternative Test Methods for use with Table 1 Test Requirements....................................................... 5
Table 3 - Technically Equivalent ISO Methods for Table 1 and table 2 Test Methods ........................................ 5

ii

DEF STAN 68-252 Issue 3

Foreword
AMENDMENT RECORD
Amd No

Date

31/03/06

Text Affected

Page 1, (Para.4.1.b) antioxidant content

range changed from micrograms/kg to
milligrams/kg.

Signature and Date

SPM3

REVISION NOTE
This standard is raised to Issue 3 to update its content. Changes from Issue 2 include the introduction of
antioxidants (on an optional basis), purity test method has changed to ASTM D 4171, water content limit
has been reduced, flash point and colour limit has been changed.
HISTORICAL RECORD
This standard supersedes the following:
DERD 2451 Issue 3 dated 30 August 1980
Interim Def Stan 68-252 Issue 1 dated 24 February 1995
Def Stan 68-252 Issue 2 dated 1 August 1997
a)

This Defence Standard specifies the requirements for Fuel System Icing Inhibitor AL-41 intended for
use in aviation turbine fuel.

b) The Technical Authority is the Director Defence Fuels Group (DDFG), Defence Petroleum Centre,
West Moors, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 6QS, United Kingdom. This standard has been produced on
behalf of the Defence Fuels and Lubricants Committee (DF&LC) by the Aviation Fuels Committee
(AFC).
c) This standard has been agreed by the authorities concerned with its use and is intended to be used
whenever relevant in all future designs, contracts, orders etc. and whenever practicable by
amendment to those already in existence. If any difficulty arises which prevents application of the
Defence Standard, the Directorate of Standardization (DStan) shall be informed so that a remedy
may be sought.
d) Any enquiries regarding this standard in relation to an invitation to tender or a contract in which it is
incorporated are to be addressed to the responsible technical or supervising authority named in the
invitation to tender or contract.
e) Compliance with this Defence Standard shall not in itself relieve any person from any legal
obligations imposed upon them.
f)

This standard has been devised solely for the use of the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and its
contractors in the execution of contracts for the MOD. To the extent permitted by law, the MOD
hereby excludes all liability whatsoever and howsoever arising (including, but without limitation,
liability resulting from negligence) for any loss or damage however caused when the standard is
used for any other purpose.
iii

DEF STAN 68-252 Issue 3

Introduction
Defence Standard 68-252 provides requirements for fuel system icing inhibitor (AL-41).
NOTE: The Technical/Specification Authority is the Director Defence Fuels Group, Defence Petroleum
Centre, West Moors, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 6QS, United Kingdom.

iv

DEF STAN 68-252 Issue 3

Standards for Defence - Fuel System Icing Inhibitor.

NATO Code: S-1745. JSD: AL-41
1

Scope

This Standard specifies the requirements for one grade (AL-41) of Fuel System Icing Inhibitor (FSII)
intended for use in aviation turbine fuels. Material provided to this standard shall possess satisfactory
performance and properties when used in appropriate vehicles and/or gas turbines or engines operated
by the Ministry of Defence, or for which the Civil Aviation Authority is the certificating agency.

Warning

The Ministry of Defence (MOD), like its contractors, is subject to both United Kingdom and European
laws regarding Health and Safety at Work, without exemption. All Defence Standards either directly or
indirectly invoke the use of processes and procedures that could be injurious to health if adequate
precautions are not taken. Defence Standards or their use in no way absolves users from complying with
statutory and legal requirements relating to Health and Safety at Work.

Normative References

3.1 The documents and publications referred to in the text of this Standard are listed at Annex B.
Publications are grouped and listed in alphanumeric order.
3.2 Reference in this Standard to any related documents means in any invitation to tender or contract
the edition and all amendments current at the date of such tender or contract unless a specific edition is
indicated.
3.3 In consideration of 3.2 above, users shall be fully aware of the issue and amendment status of all
normative references, particularly when forming part of an invitation to tender or contract. Responsibility
for the correct application of standards rests with users.
3.4 DStan can advise regarding where normative references are obtained from. Requests for such
information can be made to the DStan Helpdesk. How to contact the Helpdesk is shown on the outside
rear cover of this Defence Standard.

Materials and Composition

4.1 Material supplied as AL-41 shall consist of either:

a. diethylene glycol monomethyl ether, or
b. diethylene glycol monomethyl ether except that an antioxidant specified in 4.2 shall be added
at a concentration from 50 to 150 mg/kg. The antioxidant shall be added immediately after
processing and before the diethylene glycol monomethyl ether is exposed to the
atmosphere.

DEF STAN 68-252 Issue 3

4.2 The antioxidant added to the diethylene glycol monomethyl ether shall be one of the following:
a.
b.
c.
d.

2,6-ditertiary-butyl-4-methyl-phenol
2,4-dimethyl-6-tertiary-butyl-phenol
2,6-ditertiary-butyl-phenol
Mixed tertiary-butyl-phenol composition:
75 percent, minimum, 2,6-ditertiary- butyl-phenol
25 percent, maximum, tertiary and tritertiary-butyl-phenols

4.3 The Ministry of Defence reserves the right to require that the material and any components used are
subject to toxicological and physiological tests to ascertain their suitability for use.

Product Compliance

5.1
Before any product can be considered as complying with this Standard, the manufacturer shall
demonstrate that the product meets the requirements of Table 1.
5.2 The manufacturer shall submit, in confidence, formulation details, the source of the product and
identification of any antioxidant used to the Technical Authority.
5.3 Once submitted, the formulation shall not be changed without the written approval of the Technical
Authority.
5.4 In addition to testing the finished product in accordance with Table 1, the Technical Authority
reserves the right to require additional evidence that the product is compliant. The Technical Authority
may require testing of the components at any stage of the manufacturing process.
5.5 If any sample taken from the consignment is found not to comply with the requirements of this
Standard, the whole consignment may be rejected.

Testing

6.1
Properties of the product shall not exceed the maximum nor be less than the minimum values
set out in Table 1.
6.2 Methods quoted in Table 1 are referee methods and shall be used in cases of dispute. Alternative
technically equivalent methods may be used with agreement of the Technical Authority. Approved
alternative methods are listed in Annex A, Table 2. A list of ISO test methods which were technically
equivalent to the IP test methods at the time of issue of the standard can be found at Annex A, Table 3.
6.3
IP 367, which covers the use of precision data, may be used for the interpretation of test results
in cases of dispute between purchaser and supplier.

Keeping Qualities

The product, when suitably stored in its original sealed containers, shall retain the properties described in
this Standard for a period of not less than 12 months in temperate climates and not less than 6 months in
tropical climates, from the date specified in the contract.

Containers and Marking of Containers

8.1 The product shall be supplied in sound, clean and dry containers, suitable for the product and in
accordance with the requirements of the contract or order.
8.2 Coatings and paint finishes shall comply with the requirements of the contract or order. Markings
shall be in accordance with the requirements of Def Stan 05-52 (Part 1). The product identification shall
be specified in the contract or order.
2

DEF STAN 68-252 Issue 3

8.3 It shall be the responsibility of the contractor to comply with any legal requirements for the marking
of containers.

DEF STAN 68-252 Issue 3

Table 1 Test Requirements

Test
No.

Property

Units

Limits

Appearance

Total Acidity

Colour

Density at 15C

Distillation

5.1

Initial Boiling Point

Min 191.0

5.2
6

Dry Point
Purity

C
% (m/m)

Max 198.0
Min 99.0

mg
KOH/g

kg/l

Method

Clear, bright and

visually free from solid
matter

Visual

Max 0.09

IP 139/ASTM D 974
(NOTE 1)

Max 10

ASTM D 1209

Min 1.024
Max 1.028

IP 365/ASTM D 4052
IP 195/ASTM D 1078

ASTM D 4171
(NOTE 2)
7
Flash Point
C
Min 85
IP 34/ASTM D 93
8
Water Content
% (m/m)
Max 0.10
IP 356/ASTM D 4377
NOTE 1: Following procedure for IP 139 but amended as follows: Weight of sample 50 g,
concentration of KOH 0.05 molar.
NOTE 2: The procedure detailed in Annex A of ASTM D 4171 shall be used.

DEF STAN 68-252 Issue 3

ANNEX A
Alternative Test Methods and Technically Equivalent ISO Test Methods

Table 2 Alternative Test Methods for use with Table 1 Test Requirements
Table 1 Test No.

Property

Alternative

Density at 15 C

IP 160/ASTM D 1298
IP 189/190

Flash Point

IP 303 Part 1/ASTM D 3828

Water Content

IP 386/ASTM D 4928

Table 3 Technically Equivalent ISO Methods for Table 1 and Table 2 Test Methods
IP / ASTM Test Method

ISO Method

IP 139 / ASTM D 974

ISO 6618

IP 160 / ASTM D 1298

ISO 3675

IP 189/190

ISO 3838

IP 356 / ASTM D 4377

ISO 10336

IP 365 / ASTM D 4052

ISO 12185

IP 367

ISO 4259

IP 386 / ASTM D 4928

ISO 10337

IP 34

ISO 2719

DEF STAN 68-252 Issue 3

ANNEX B
Normative References

Designation

Title

Def Stan 05-52 (Part 1)

Markings for the Identification of Fuels, (Part 1) Lubricants and

Associated Products, Containers holding 216.5 litres or less.

IP 34

Determination of Flash Point - Pensky-Martens Closed Cup

Method

IP 139

Petroleum Products and Lubricants Determination of Acid or

Base Number Colour-Indicator Titration Method

IP 160

Determination of Density - Hydrometer Method

IP 189/190

Crude Petroleum and Liquid or Solid Petroleum Products

Determination of Density or Relative Density CapillaryStoppered Pyknometer and Graduated Bicapillary Pyknometer
Methods

IP 195

Determination of Distillation Characteristics of Volatile Organic

Liquids

IP 303 Part 1

Determination of Closed Flash Point - Mini Equilibrium Method

IP 356

Crude Petroleum Determination of Water Potentiometric Karl

Fischer Titration Method

IP 365

Determination of Density - Oscillating U-Tube Method

IP 367

Petroleum Products - Determination and Application of Precision

Data in Relation to Methods of Test.

IP 386

Crude Petroleum Determination of Water Coulometric Karl

Fischer Titration Method

ASTM D 93

Determination of Flash Point - Pensky-Martens Closed Cup

Method

ASTM D 974

Petroleum Products and Lubricants Determination of Acid or

Base Number Colour-Indicator Titration Method

ASTM D 1078

Standard Method of Test for Distillation Range of Lacquer

Solvents and Diluents

ASTM D 1209

Standard Method of Test for Colour of Clear Liquids (Platinum

Cobalt Scale)

ASTM D 1298

Standard Practice for Density, Relative Density (Specific Gravity),

or API Gravity of Crude Petroleum and Liquid Petroleum
Products by Hydrometer Method

ASTM D 3828

Standard Test Methods for Flash Point by Small Scale Closed

Tester

DEF STAN 68-252 Issue 3

ASTM D 4052

Standard Test Method for Density and Relative Density of

Liquids by Digital Density Meter

ASTM D 4171

Standard Specification for Fuel System Icing Inhibitor

ASTM D 4377

Standard Test Method for Water in Crude Oils by Potentiometric

Karl Fischer Titration Method

ASTM D 4928

Standard Test Method for Water in Crude Oils by Coulometric

Karl Fischer Titration Method

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File Reference
The DStan file reference relating to work on this standard is D/DStan/68/252.
Contract Requirements
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application and for complying with contractual and statutory requirements. Compliance with a
Defence Standard does not in itself confer immunity from legal obligations.
Revision of Defence Standards
Defence Standards are revised as necessary by an up issue or amendment. It is important that
users of Defence Standards should ascertain that they are in possession of the latest issue or
amendment. Information on all Defence Standards is contained in Def Stan 00-00 Standards for
Defence Part 3 Index of Standards for Defence Procurement Section 4 'Index of Defence
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