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Magnetic Iron
Particle Counts
This test is a quantitative analysis of magnetic iron particle concentrations in a lubricant.
This test focuses on ferrous particles and ignores alloys and rust. Fluid Life reports results in
mg/ml for two size ranges, particles less than 100 microns and greater than 100 microns.
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Analytical Ferrography
An analytical ferrography provides a detailed “forensic science” analysis of the particles generated
by wear by describing the debris contents on a special microscope slide (aka Ferrogram).
A Fluid Life senior analyst provides a detailed report identifying the type, nature and probable
source of the wear particles along with relevant photographs of the ferrogram.
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Acid Number
An acid number in a lubricant context provides a measurement of oil degradation.
This degradation is expressed by the change in acidity of a used sample as compared to
its new, original state. Typically acid number is a good barometer of when industrial oils
(hydraulics, compressors, gear oils, etc.) need to be changed.
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Base Number
The base number describes the reserve alkalinity remaining in the lubricant,
which is indicative of the oil’s ability to counteract acid formation. This test is well
suited for monitoring diesel engine oils.
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Karl
Fischer Water Titration
Often triggered by the Series 1 screening test the Karl Fisher Water Titration
method provides a quantitative determination of the actual water content down to <10 ppm.
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RPVOT
The Rotating Pressure Vessel Oxidation Test (RPVOT) measures a fluid’s long term oxidation stability.
This test is appropriate for evaluating the useful life of a lubricant in large reservoir applications such as turbines,
press lube systems, paper machine oils among others. As RPVOT requires a larger than normal sample volume,
Fluid Life provides special test kits for sample preparation.
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Other tests available at Fluid Life include:
- open and closed cup flash tests
- copper corrosion
- demulsibility
- density
- foam test
- infrared test (differential)
- interfacial tension
- pentane insolubles
- specific gravity
- sugar
- sulphation and toluene insolubles
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Varnish Potential
This test looks at particles in an oil sample larger than 0.45 microns. The amount and colour of
these fine particles identifies "potential" of the oil to form varnish.
Compressors, turbines and hydraulic systems are
common unit types that may experience the detrimental effects of varnish.
Varnish potential is reported on a scale from 0 to 100 where 100 indicates that
severe varnishing will occur.
Read more about Varnish Potential
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