Blog

Justifying An Oil Analysis Program

Justifying An Oil Analysis Program An oil analysis program must have a goal in mind for it to be effective, and the goal ultimately determines some of the factors associated with the program. As examples, common goals may include, reducing oil consumption, extending equipment life and increasing reliability. When setting a goal of extending drain…
Read more

THE TRIBOLOGY ZONE

THE TRIBOLOGY ZONE There is a film dimension beyond that which is known to common man. It is a dimension as vast as clearance space and as timeless as momentary. It is the middle ground between contact and hydrodynamic, between science and superstition, and it lies between the pit of Man’s fears and the summit…
Read more

Introduction to Elemental Spectroscopy

Introduction to Elemental Spectroscopy Elemental spectroscopy measures in-service fluid samples for wear metals, additives, and contaminants. The method used to perform the measurement is properly termed Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES) and the results are commonly referred to as ICP or spec results. The measurement is performed by diluting a sample with solvent…
Read more

Sources of Iron

Sources of Iron Iron is commonly expected to be found in samples as a wear metal, as it is the foundation element in all forms of steel, which is by far the most prevalent material in lubricated machines. It will often correlate with other metals like chromium, titanium, molybdenum, and vanadium; if the correlation remains…
Read more

The Butterfly Effect

The Butterfly Effect How a seemingly throwaway line on a resume led to a fulfilling career in tribology The downturn in employment opportunities over the past several years reminds me of the difficulties I faced upon graduating…the first time. There I was, freshly out of my school’s chemical engineering program and waiting to hear back…
Read more

Sources of Lead

Sources of Lead Lead is an expected wear metal in any machine using plain bearings, as lead and tin are the most predominant metals used in Babbitt overlay, with lesser amounts of copper, antimony, and/or arsenic. Typically, increasing levels of lead from this layer are not considered actionable, not until metals like copper or nickel…
Read more