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Understanding Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy

Understanding Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy measures additive depletion, contaminant buildup, and base stock degradation in lubricants. This type of analysis complements wear metal and other analyses. The principle of the test is that an infrared absorbance spectrum is acquired by passing an infrared beam through a thin layer of…
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Sources of Silicon

Sources of Silicon Silicon is commonly identified as a contaminant, either from dust or dirt, which must be understood to be completely different types of contaminants. Dirt has a different chemical composition than dust, though they both are silicon-based. Dirt is also made up of aluminum, with a ratio of around 3-4 times more silicon…
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What Failed Demulsibility Results Mean

What Failed Demulsibility Results Mean Demulsibility, or more correctly, water separation, is a measure of a lubricant’s ability to separate from water. Lubricants and water have a natural tendency to separate because most basestock molecules are non-polar, while water molecules are polar and will seek each other out instead of mixing with the basestock. Water…
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Understanding MPC Results

Understanding MPC Results According to ASTM test method D7843, Membrane Patch Colorimetry (MPC) is intended to serve as a “guide to end-users on the formation of lubricant-generated, insoluble deposits”. The issue, however, is that the results do not seem straightforward. Fundamentally, MPC is measure of the insolubles found dissolved or suspended in the fluid, and…
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Ferrous Wear Concentration versus PQ Index

Ferrous Wear Concentration versus PQ Index Since elemental spectroscopy is generally accepted as having lower accuracy measuring wear particles larger than approximately 10 microns, most labs employ some form of simple, large particle analysis specific to ferrous content. Ferrous content is chosen not only because it tends to represent the most common metal in machines,…
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Sources of Molybdenum

Sources of Molybdenum Molybdenum is an additive metal commonly used in friction modifier additives. Only when the molybdenum level deviates more than 25% from the new oil or reference value should a concern be raised, but the likeliest cause is mixing or topping-off with a different product. This type of friction modifier is found in…
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