Material Identification Analysis is a critical tool for nearly all industries, especially power generation, oil and gas, aerospace and defense, automotive and transportation, and manufacturing. Its value is especially clear when unexpected contaminants appear in oil and the cause is not obvious. As a result, standard fluid testing may not be able to specify the problem.
Material Identification Analysis is designed to pinpoint the root cause of a problem or the origin of foreign material. At Eurofins TestOil, Material Identification Analysis leverages best practice analytical and sample preparation techniques to assess the origin of the foreign material and provide recommendations for resolution.
Test Procedure
In most cases, sample portions are analyzed by ATR-FTIR[1]. In this technique, infrared light is reflected off the surface of a sample and generates a transmission spectrum. Different molecular structures will absorb different light frequencies. By studying a transmission spectrum, one can observe which frequencies were absorbed and characterize the molecules present.
Depending on the sample, additional testing may be added to further characterize the material. When possible, suggestions are given for possible sources or causes of the problem. Any additional information provided by the customer (operating environment, machine symptoms, potential contaminants) is very helpful for specific recommendations.
Benefits of Material Identification Analysis
Material Identification Analysis delivers a wide range of benefits—especially in industrial, power generation, and transportation settings where lubricants and coolants are mission-critical. Here are the key advantages:
- Source of Contamination: It Identifies the type of foreign material, which usually indicates the source.
- Failure Prevention: It pinpoints abnormal particles that may indicate early component wear.
- Improved Maintenance & Reliability: It enables root-cause analysis, rather than just symptom detection.
- Regulatory & Warranty Compliance: Some OEMs and regulators require detailed contamination reporting that includes Material Identification Analysis. This testing provides documented evidence for warranty claims or insurance coverage in the case of equipment failure.
- Data-Driven Decision Making: It distinguishes between benign contaminants and harmful particles. It also supports long-term trend analysis, showing recurring contamination patterns that point to systemic design or operational issues.
The Real World
Eurofins TestOil analysts have many examples that show how Material Identification Analysis was able to solve serious contamination issues for clients, here are two that stand out.
CASE STUDY 1: Identification of Multiple Contaminants in a Hydraulic System Filter
A bottom roll hydraulic system was exhibiting high differential pressure across the lube oil filter. When the filter was removed, it was covered in pink, fibrous material. The filter was sent to the laboratory to characterize the material. At the lab, close inspection revealed the presence of three distinct foreign materials captured in the filter media: a black solid material, a brown solid material and a pink woven material. The pink woven material was the most abundant material and was the primary cause of the plugged filter. Laboratory analysis of the black material characterized it as polypropylene. The brown material was characterized as Teflon. The pink material was characterized as polyethylene terephthalate.
Identification of the materials allowed the plant’s investigative team to track down and confirm the sources of the material. The black polypropylene and brown Teflon were traced back to seals and gaskets in the lubricating system. The pink polyethylene terephthalate was traced back to a welding rag which had been accidentally dropped into an open hatch by a contractor working at the plant. Knowledge of the root cause of the pink material, which plugged the filter, allowed the plant to develop better training for outside contractors.
CASE STUDY 2: Sticking Conveyor Belt
A conveyor belt used to transport product began to have sticking issues. Upon inspection, a grease-like gel was found under the conveyor belt on the rollers. This was unexpected since the rollers are not lubricated. To determine the origin of this foreign material, a sample was sent to the lab for analysis. The sample underwent chemical extraction processes in the lab to separate the material into organic and inorganic components. The organic material present was characterized as phthalate ester and carboxylate salts.
It was determined that the source of the phthalate ester was mold release agents used to facilitate the release of the product from the mold forms. In the presence of water, these esters can form gels, and can also react to form acids, which can then react with available metals to form carboxylate salts. The inorganic fraction of the sample was found to consist primarily of calcium sulfate originating from product dust. The carboxylate salt and calcium sulfate act as a binder in the gel, similar to a thickener in a grease.
Understanding the composition and origins of this material allowed the plant to plan for scheduled cleaning of the belt and rollers to prevent build up and further issues with belt sticking.
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A thorough Material Identification Analysis, will result in valuable evidence of a chemical problem with the fluid, a mechanical problem with the machine, and/or external contamination in the fluid system. Ultimately, Material Identification Analysis safeguards equipment, boosts product quality, maintains compliance, reduces costs, and supports uninterrupted uptime.
For more information on working with Eurofins TestOil for Material Identification Analysis, oil analysis, fuel analysis or training, fill out the form below; visit https://testoil.com/company/contact-us/; call 772-696-4405; or email mary.messuti@et.eurofinsus.com.
With more than 30 years of experience in the oil analysis industry, Eurofins TestOil focuses exclusively on assisting industrial facilities with reducing maintenance costs and avoiding unexpected downtime through oil and fuel analysis program implementation. As industry experts in diagnosing oil-related issues in equipment such as turbines, hydraulics, gearboxes, pumps, compressors and diesel generators, Eurofins TestOil provides customers with same-day turnaround on routine oil analysis testing. For more information on partnering with Eurofins TestOil on oil analysis programs or training opportunities visit https://testoil.com. Contact: Mary Messuti 216-251-2510; mary.messuti@et.eurofinsus.com
About Eurofins – the global leader in bio-analysis
Eurofins is Testing for Life. Eurofins is the global leader in food, environment, pharmaceutical and cosmetic product testing, and in discovery pharmacology, forensics, advanced material sciences and agroscience Contract Research services. Eurofins is also a market leader in certain testing and laboratory services for genomics, and in the support of clinical studies, as well as in BioPharma Contract Development and Manufacturing. The Group also has a rapidly developing presence in highly specialised and molecular clinical diagnostic testing and in-vitro diagnostic products.
With over 61,000 staff across a network of 940 laboratories in 59 countries, Eurofins’ companies offer a portfolio of over 200,000 analytical methods. Eurofins Shares are listed on Euronext Paris Stock Exchange.
[1] Attenuated Total Reflectance – Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy
