List of analysis performed in our laboratory

The test involves aerating and determining the time (in minutes) for air to be released from the oil, and is measured by measuring density.

The water present in the sample is titrated with iodine. The amount of iodine used to titrate the water present in the sample is converted to water content.

The test involves aerating an oil sample and measuring the volume of foam immediately after aeration (propensity) and after a specified time (stability).

Automatic method for measuring oil cleanliness class with a laser particle counter using a dilution technique that eliminates interference from water contamination and the presence of soluble sludge.

The copper plate in the presence of the test sample is thermostated according to the requirement of the subject standard. The plate after the test is compared with the standard and the corrosion level is determined on a scale of 1 to 4 and subcategories from a to e.

Water from the sample is extracted into the gas phase and transported to the measuring cell to perform titrations, where iodine is generated by electrochemical oxidation.

A modified Couette measurement principle is used. The method includes a cell for measuring density and a cell for measuring dynamic viscosity. The kinematic viscosity is calculated automatically, based on the dynamic viscosity and density of the sample.

The test involves measuring the flow time of a sample through a calibrated capillary. The kinematic viscosity is calculated by multiplying the measured flow time by the capillary constant.

A method involving the use of atomic emission spectroscopy (AES). The sample is energetically excited in a plasma (a mixture of ion atoms and electrons) at 10,000°C.

Filter bench – preparation of samples for purity class testing

A sample of the test oil is mixed with water in a 40:40 (ml) ratio for 5 min. The result of the test is the time, given in minutes, in which the separation of the oil-water phases will occur until an emulsion of 3 ml or less is obtained.

The steel mandrel, in the presence of an oil and water sample, is thermostated at 60°C. After 24 hours, a visual evaluation is carried out.

The penetration test involves measuring the depth of the cone’s immersion in the lubricant, after a 5-second gravitational descent. The result of the test is penetration, measured in 0.1 mm, which defines the consistency class of the lubricant, defined according to NLGI.

The test consists of filtering an oil sample through a membrane with a porosity of 0.8 µm and noting the duration of filtration of specific volumes.

The alkaline number is the number of milligrams (KOH), equivalent to all the alkaline components contained in 1 gram of oil. The test involves potentiometric titration.

The acid number is the number of milligrams (KOH), equivalent to all components of an acidic nature contained in 1 gram of oil. The test involves potentiometric titration.

PQ Index – Particle Quantifier Index – a quantifier of ferromagnetic particles. The measurement is based on the phenomenon of magnetic field distortion.

The method involves determining the color of the oil with reference to the ASTM color chart. The measurement is performed by the camera using the spectrophotometric method. ASTM scale from 0.5 (brightest) to 8.0 (darkest).

The liquid sample is introduced into an oscillating U-tube. The density-proportional change in the frequency of oscillation of the empty and filled U-tube is used to calculate the density.

The test involves determining the minimum ignition temperature of oil contained in a closed crucible, using an ignition initiator (here a flame).

The test involves determining the minimum ignition temperature of the oil contained in a closed crucible, using an ignition initiator (here an electric igniter inserted automatically).

The method involves determining the residue, after coking, formed after the evaporation and thermal decomposition of petroleum products.

The test involves determining the minimum ignition temperature of the oil in the open crucible using an ignition initiator (here a flame).

The prepared oil sample is filtered through a filter membrane, and the membrane is then subjected to colorimetric evaluation. The MPC index is determined by spectral color measurement according to the CIE Lab scale in filtered sample sediment.

The test involves filtering 100 ml of the oil under test through a filter membrane and assessing the oil’s purity grade using a microscope, either manually – by an experienced lab technician or automatically.

Under strictly standardized conditions, steam is supplied to 20 ml of oil; under turbulent conditions, 40 ml of emulsion is produced. The result of the test is the separation time of 20 ml of oil calculated in seconds.

A test oil sample in the presence of aging catalysts (water, copper, oxygen) enclosed in a steel container is thermostated at 150 °C. The result of the test is the time counted in minutes from the moment the sample is placed in the apparatus, until the pressure drops by 1.75 bar from the maximum pressure recorded in the test.

Using the voltammetry technique, a diagram is plotted, which, with reference to a reference curve, reports the amount of remaining antioxidant inhibitors in the oil.

A method involving the phenomenon of atomic emission spectroscopy (AES). Excitation of the elements in the sample takes place in an electric arc (7-8 thousand °C) generated between a rotating disk electrode and a rod electrode. From the amount of energy emitted, individual elements, the apparatus defines their concentration.

Individual molecules present in the oil absorb typical infrared light. Based on the difference between the “blank” and the beam after passing through the oil, an inferogram is formed, which, subjected to mathematical transformations of the Fourier transform, gives the IR spectrum – the dependence of absorbance on the wave number.

The camera, using appropriate optics and a very fast micro CCD sensor, archives images of the particles, assigning them (based on their shape) to the correct set. It thus defines the wear process by which they were created.

Grease Thief® is the only method that allows as many as 9 tests (including consistency, wear, contamination, grease oxidation and wear particle counts) to be performed on a grease sample weighing as little as 1g.