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| By analyzing the colour, morphology, size, and surface detail of ferrous and nonferrous wear particles, an
experienced lab technician can provide accurate information about the type, severity and root cause of abnormal wear.
This insightful historical data enables maintenance experts to implement predictive and effective actions based on
this important information.
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Analytical Ferrography Requires:
- A skilled and experienced analyst.
- A ferrogramatic slide.
- Particle identification under a microscope.
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.
When implemented correctly analytical ferrography can provide:
- a powerful diagnostic tool for your maintenance program.
- a progressive extension to your conventional sampling program.
- excellent return on your oil analysis investment.
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Ferrous Particles:
During the creation of a ferrogram as shown below, ferrous particles will often line up to appear chain-like
on the laboratory slide. These chain-like rows of ferrous particles will often act as a filtering mechanism, collecting copper particles, babbitt, and contaminants. |
| Wear Metal |
Colour Before Heating |
Colour After Heating |
Description |
| Cast Iron |
Grayish |
Light Yellow |
These often align in chains amongst the other ferrous particles. |
| Dark Metallic Oxides |
Black |
Black |
Gather in chains. The level of darkness is indicative of the degree of oxidation. |
| High Alloy Steel |
Grayish white |
Grayish white |
High alloys will appear white in a chainlike structure. |
| Low Alloy Steel |
Gray-white |
Blue, pink or red |
Particles are also found in chains. |
| Red Oxides (Rust) |
Reddish orange |
Reddish orange |
Polarized light readily identifies red oxides. Large amounts can indicate corrosive wear. |
Other Particles:
| Particle |
Colour Before Heating |
Colour After Heating |
Description |
| Babbitt |
Gray |
Gray with blue spots.
Size decrease. |
Often consist of lead or tin. Appear randomly on the slide. |
| Contaminants |
White crystalline |
White crystalline |
Often dirt (silica), or other particulates which are semi translucent. Appear randomly on the slide and are often encircled by the chains of ferrous particles. |
| Copper |
Bright yellow |
Bright yellow |
Copper particles will be deposited randomly across the slide. |
| Fibers |
Various |
Various (no change) |
From filters or outside contamination source. Often long translucent strings that will appear anywhere on the slide. |
| White nonferrous |
Bright white |
Bright white |
Often chromium or aluminum. They are deposited randomly across the slide. |
Examples of actual ferrogram photographs.
Click to enlarge.
If the effort is taken to fully understand what analytical
ferrography reveals, the benefits significantly outweigh the costs and maintenance professionals are wise to automatically incorporate it when abnormal wear is encountered. |
For customers using Fluid Life Data Management
Products such as WinRoast and MyLab, ferrography photographs are easily viewable and give
service technicians another predictive tool in their
maintenance program.
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Maintenance Solutions
Once a maintenance technician has the testing information to determine the nature of abnormal wear or contamination within a component, a course of action can be taken such as:
- Adjusting or optimizing oil change intervals.
- Modifying their maintenance schedule to reduce the chance of varnish formation
based on the run time of the specific component.
- Deploying an advanced filtration system.
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| Consult your Fluid Life Regional Account Manager concerning Analytical Ferrography Testing as part of your maintenance program. |
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