Lubricants contamination

Lubricant Sampling and Analysis The routine analysis of lubricants is a vital condition-monitoring program element, providing information on the health of the lubricant, contaminant ingression, and machine condition. 

Fitch, J.C. Jaggernauth, S. Moisture—the second most destructive lubricant contaminant, Part I— Its effects on bearing life. Proceedings of the JOAP Condition Monitoring International Conference, November, 1994. 

Mechanical issues mechanical seals are used (Kent, 2(X)2). These can be quite expensive and require special lubricants. There may be problems if this lubricant contaminates the product. Special seals are required in such cases. 

The causes of flow-related problems include faulty connections between units and total or partial interconnection failure. In the case of fluids, the factors that must be considered with care from the safety perspective include flammability, loss of pressure, toxicity, lubricity, contamination, and odor. 

Major lubricant contaminants have different effects on medium- and low-frequency impedance characteristics. For example, no evidence of impedance changes caused by soot or fuel has been reported. On the other hand, the presence of even -0.1-0.2 percent water strongly affects the interfacial (medium-and low-frequency) ranges of the impedance spectrum [21]. Immediately following the subpercent water injection the interfacial real impedance virtually disappears, and a large increase in low-frequency capacitance is observed (Figure 10-9). 

Aerosol products are hermetically sealed, ensuring that the contents caimot leak, spill, or be contaminated. The packages can be considered to be tamper-proof. They deUver the product in an efficient manner generating Httie waste, often to sites of difficult access. By control of particle size, spray pattern, and volume deUvered per second, the product can be appHed directiy without contact by the user. For example, use of aerosol pesticides can minimize user exposure and aerosol first-aid products can soothe without applying painful pressure to a wound. Spray contact lens solutions can be appHed directiy and aerosol lubricants (qv) can be used on machinery in operation. Some preparations, such as stable foams, can only be packaged as aerosols. 

Again, irrespective of the hardware the chemistry is consistent. The partially regenerated fiber from the spinning machine is contaminated with sulfuric acid, 2inc sulfate, sodium sulfate, carbon disulfide, and the numerous incompletely decomposed by-products of the xanthation reactions. The washing and drying systems must yield a pure cellulose fiber, suitably lubricated for the end use, and dried to a moisture level of around 10%. 

Du Pont called this new lubricant material Krytox (64,65) and initially it had such extraordinary properties that it sold for 200/kg ( 187kg ca 1993). Krytox was and is used ia most of the vacuum pumps and diffusion oil pumps for the microelectronics iadustry ia this country and ia Japan because it produces no hydrocarbon (or fluorocarbon) vapor contamination. It has also found important appHcations ia the lubrication of computer tapes and ia other data processiag appHcations as weU as military and space appHcations. 

Oil whose characteristics have changed since original manufacture and which is suitable for recycling. This is an umbrella category that includes used lubricating oils of all types as well as dirty or contaminated fuel or other oils that can be economically recycled. 

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