Performance Assessment of Some Isomers of Saturated Polycyclic Hydrocarbons for Use as Jet Fuels

The performance of jet fuel depends on the density ( ρ ), condensed phase heat of formation (▵ f H °(c)), and specific impulse ( I SP ). Exo‐tricyclo[5.2.1.0(2,6)]decane (C 10 H 16 ) or JP‐10 is now used as a suitable synthetic liquid jet fuel because it has the approximated values of ρ =1.1 g cm −3 and ▵ f H °(c)=− 123 kJ mol −1 and a broad range between the melting and boiling points, i.e. T bp – T mp =196.2 K. This work introduces a suitable pathway for calculation of the values of ρ , ▵ f H °(c), and I SP of 13 well‐known isomers of JP‐10 and a series of saturated polycyclic hydrocarbons with general formula of C n H n ′ (5≤ n ≤12) in order to specify high performance jet fuels. Although 13 compounds have larger values of I SP * ρ than JP‐10, only two compounds, tetraspiro[2.0.0.0.2.1.1.1]undecane and tetracyclo[3.2.0.0(2,7).0(4,6)]heptane, are suitable as jet fuels.