TetraEthyl Lead was determined by experimentation as the best of 16,000 substances tried as a detonation inhibitor. it was significantly better than the next best substance.
described in "Engines & Enterprise, the life and work of Sir Harry Ricardo" by John Reynolds. published by Haynes Publishing as book H4516.
ISBN 978 1 84425 516 0
Library of Congress card No. 2008922573
a very interesting read.
"moreover, in 1926 two scientists working for General Motors in the USA, Charles Kettering and Thomas Midgeley, discovered the use of tetraethyl lead as an additive had a remarkable effect in reducing the tendency of petroleum fuels to detonate"
Last edited by dubbleyew eight; 2nd Aug 2013 at 06:51.