What substance, discovered through research led by Charles F. Kettering, was critical for allowing higher compression ratios in gasoline engines without engine knocking?
Answer
Tetraethyllead (TEL)
The problem of engine knocking and pre-ignition arose in early automobiles as engineers attempted to increase compression ratios for better efficiency using variable-quality straight-run gasolines. To overcome this instability, research into anti-knock agents was undertaken. This research culminated in the 1921 discovery by Thomas Midgley Jr., working under Charles F. Kettering’s direction, of tetraethyllead (TEL). TEL effectively suppressed knocking, enabling the widespread adoption of high-performance gasoline standards. Although its severe health warnings were known early on, its ability to optimize engine performance cemented its status in the gasoline standard for a considerable time.
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