Lubricants determinations

The following sub-sections of this chapter are intended to provide a general overview of some of the common test methods used to determine lubricant condition and the presence and degree of common contaminants. It is important to remember that there are only a few oil-related failure modes that are critical to machinery operational reliability and these few symptoms require only a few of the available fluid tests. 

Several examples of experimental approaches to thin-film lubrication have been reported [3]. It is important in examining these techniques to make the distinction between methods that are used to determine lubricant film thickness under hydrodynamic or elastohydrodynamic conditions (e.g., optical interference, electrical capacitance, or x-ray transmission), and methods that are used to determine the occurrence or frequency of contact. As we will see later, most experimental studies of synovial joint lubrication have focused on friction measurements, using the information to determine the lubrication regime involved this approach can be misleading. 

Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy Method of Determining Lubricant Properties... 

HEYES, D.M. and MONTROSE, C.J. The use of line and point contacts in determining lubricant rheology under low slip elasto-hydrodynamic conditions, ASME J. Lub. 

Burdett, R.A., L.W. Taylor and L.C. Jones Jr (1955), Determination of aromatic hydrocarbons in lubricating oil fractions by far UV absorption spectroscopy , p. 30. In Molecular Spectroscopy Report Conf. Institute of Petroleum, London. 

Simple conventional refining is based essentially on atmospheric distillation. The residue from the distillation constitutes heavy fuel, the quantity and qualities of which are mainly determined by the crude feedstock available without many ways to improve it. Manufacture of products like asphalt and lubricant bases requires supplementary operations, in particular separation operations and is possible only with a relatively narrow selection of crudes (crudes for lube oils, crudes for asphalts). The distillates are not normally directly usable processing must be done to improve them, either mild treatment such as hydrodesulfurization of middle distillates at low pressure, or deep treatment usually with partial conversion such as catalytic reforming. The conventional refinery thereby has rather limited flexibility and makes products the quality of which is closely linked to the nature of the crude oil used. 

Urea has the remarkable property of forming crystalline complexes or adducts with straight-chain organic compounds. These crystalline complexes consist of a hoUow channel, formed by the crystallized urea molecules, in which the hydrocarbon is completely occluded. Such compounds are known as clathrates. The type of hydrocarbon occluded, on the basis of its chain length, is determined by the temperature at which the clathrate is formed. This property of urea clathrates is widely used in the petroleum-refining industry for the production of jet aviation fuels (see Aviation and other gas-TURBINE fuels) and for dewaxing of lubricant oils (see also Petroleum, refinery processes). The clathrates are broken down by simply dissolving urea in water or in alcohol. 

Smoke, Flash, and Fire Points. These thermal properties may be determined under standard test conditions (57). The smoke poiat is defined as the temperature at which smoke begias to evolve continuously from the sample. Flash poiat is the temperature at which a flash is observed whea a test flame is appHed. The fire poiat is defiaed as the temperature at which the fire coatiaues to bum. These values are profouadly affected by minor coastitueats ia the oil, such as fatty acids, moao- and diglycerides, and residual solvents. These factors are of commercial importance where fats or oils are used at high temperatures such as ia lubricants or edible frying fats. 

A sequence of tests has been devised to evaluate antioxidants for use in automotive crankcase lubricants. The Indiana Stirring Oxidation Test (ISOT) JISK2514 is an example of a laboratory screening test. The oil is stirred at 165.5°C in the presence of air. Copper and iron strips are used as metal catalysts. The development of sludge, viscosity, and acidity are deterrnined periodically. Failure time is determined when the development of acidity requires... 

Material strength is but one factor ia determining maximum load that can be carried by a beating material. Load capacity is equally related to design details, lubrication, and general appHcation experience. 

Lubricity. In any mechanical seal design there is rubbing motion between the dynamic seal faces. This rubbing motion is most often lubricated by the fluid being pumped. Therefore, the lubricity of the pumped liquid at the given operating temperature must be considered to determine if the chosen seal design and face combination will perform satisfactorily. 

As a part of the lubrication program, oil should be periodically tested. The testing requires drawing oil from the system for a laboratory analysis. The usual tests conducted to determine the condition of oils include viscosity, pH and neutralization number, precipitation, color and odor, and a check for foreign particles in the oil. The results should be reviewed and compared with new oil characteristics to determine the life characteristics of the oil. 

In the event of failures due to lubrication problems, the failures should be thoroughly analyzed to determine if they were indeed caused by lubricant failure or incorrect maintenance procedures. Once the problem has been isolated, corrective action can be initiated to prevent subsequent similar failures—whether it requires changing lubricants or procedures. 

As with any analytical method, the ability to extract semiquantitative or quantitative information is the ultimate challenge. Generally, static SIMS is not used in this mode, but one application where static SIMS has been used successfully to provide quantitative data is in the accurate determination of the coverage of fluropolymer lubricants. These compounds provide the lubrication for Winchester-type hard disks and are direaly related to ultimate performance. If the lubricant is either too thick or too thin, catastrophic head crashes can occur. 

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