SEM-EDS Wear Debris Analysis

Large Particle Analysis

Large particle analysis is a critical, but often neglected, element of an effective oil analysis and condition monitoring program. ICP/AE spectrometers have a well-known lack of sensitivity to particles greater than approximately 5-10 microns. Particles >10um are effectively invisible to a spectrometry based oil analysis program. These large particles (>10um) provide critical information about machine health, component wear and contamination and are often considered an early warning of abnormal wear, bearing fatigue and transmission failure.

SEM-EDS Analysis

Scanning Electron Microscopy – Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) wear debris and large particle analysis is far superior in determining the size and composition of hundreds of particles per sample in lubricating oil, grease, filters, and process materials.

Advantages of SEM-EDS Analysis

• Detects large particles missed by spectrometry.
• Determines size and elemental composition.
• Detects abnormal wear modes including spheres, cutting and fatigue wear.
• Determines the cause and source of Copper wear; differentiate between cooler core leach, bearing wear and bushing wear.
• Monitors the progression of bearing wear through multi-layer bearings and monitor bearing overlay, nickel barriers, intermediate layers and abnormal wear into the support shell.
• Differentiates Aluminum wear from outside contamination.
• Perform accurate particle counts on in-service diesel engine oils.
• Monitor cleanliness and contamination against baselines and target.

Maintenance Solutions

Knowing the nature of abnormal wear or contamination in a lubricant, the maintenance technician can take a course of action, such as:

• Adjusting or optimizing oil change intervals.
• Implementing component life extension projects.
• Deploying an advanced filtration system.

This method combined with world-class laboratory automation enables complete SEM-EDS analysis to become a cost-effective pillar of your ROUTINE condition monitoring program or added as a triggered test.

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Additional Resources

Main Page: SEM-EDS Large Particle Analysis
Whitepaper: SEM-EDS Advanced Wear Debris Analysis for Optimized Maintenance
Case Study: Interpreting SEM-EDS Results
Article: Identifying Sources of Copper in Lubricating Oil
Article: Spherical Particles and Bearing Wear
Article: Why are my Filters Plugging