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Our advanced oil analysis offerings give our
customers the opportunity to dig deeper into potential problem
areas. Experienced oil analysis
users request these tests as a regular part of their maintenance
programs or as a result of a recommendation from one of our labs.
Using the results
of a Fluid Life Series 1 analysis as a road map, the following
tests can be "triggered" (*see note below) to provide you with the most comprehensive
knowledge about your lubrication system.
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The tests described in this section are by no means a complete
listing.
| Sediment
The sediment test measures suspended particulate contamination in industrial
or hydraulic lubricants in order to determine whether contaminants are entering from
an outside source or being generated internally. Fluid Life reports sediment present on
a filter patch in mg/l and flags the result based on a thorough microscopic analysis. |
ISO Particle Counts
Fluid cleanliness is critical to a lubricating system’s success. When setting goals
for keeping your industrial fluids clean, routine particle counting is a crucial step in
achieving the cleanest fluid possible. The ISO particle count determines size ranges
and concentrations of solid particulate found in industrial fluids. Fluid Life reports the
ISO Code cleanliness in the latest >4/6/14 micron format.
Read more about ISO Particle Counts
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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
| Optical Particle Classification
OPC is one of the most current and effective analysis methods available and can determine the presence of wear metals and contaminants in a lubricating system. A
maintenance professional can then ascertain if the equipment is operating properly or if preventive maintenance is required. Optical Particle Classification
combines the standard oil analysis techniques of particle counting and advanced shape classification.
Read more about Optical Particle Classification
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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.
Read more about Analytical Ferrography
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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.
Read more about Acid Number Testing
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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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X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry
Provides quantitative and qualitative elemental composition. X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) does not have a particle size
cutoff and can be used to measure particles of any size. This provides our customers with critical large particle detection
and identification that could predict failures in advance of other methods.
Read more about X-ray Fluorescence
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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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Note: "Triggering" or a triggered test refers to an additional test that is performed by the lab when a given test reaches a specific predetermined level (trigger point).
Eg. A Karl Fischer Water Titration Test may be "triggered" by a positive result on a Water Contamination Test (Crackle Test). |
Contact your regional account manager for more information
on any advanced testing you
are considering.
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