Some comments on the cubic thermal expansion (CTE) of hydrocarbons, upon looking at the data shown in the CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics.
1. CTE values of mixtures would depend somewhat on the composition. For example, on % aromatics.
2. Temperature affects CTE. For example, values for toluene at 20 and at 50 deg C are 0.00105/
oC and 0.00113/
oC, respectively. For octane at 25 and 45 deg C, 0.00116/
oC and 0.00123/
oC. respectively.
3. By taking the mid BP and comparing with pure paraffinic hydrocarbons one can appreciate whether the estimated data are in the ballpark. For example, the jet fuel with a MBP of 210
oC would correspond to a C11-C12 mix with 0.00097-0.00093/
oC values at 25 deg C. Aromatics would tend to "adjust" the densities of the paraffinic hydrocarbons upwards.
4. Higher molecular weight paraffinic hydrocarbons would tend to have a bit lower CTE values. For example, at 25 deg C, C12=>C13=>C14 would show: 0.00093=>0.00090=>0.00087/
oC, respectively.
I hope I didn't complicate the picture more than needed.
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