Oil Analysis: Sources Of Atomic Elements

THE PERIODIC TABLE OF ELEMENTS

Much of the elemental evaluation involved in oil analysis is often easily predictable and formulaic. Any given oil’s chemistry includes an additive package which can be seen as its “fingerprint”, wear metals can be sourced to the components of a known piece of machinery, and common contaminants are identifiable by the elements in some of the compounds of which they are comprised. This basic concept provides the foundation for the high success rates of component predictability by employing spectrochemical analysis.

Identification of elemental sources is vital to an accurate oil analysis

In some cases, a verified outlier to the typically predictable pattern occurs and the source of the unusual presence or increase of an element may require further investigation into its source. In such cases in which an experienced oil data analyst cannot positively identify the source of an elemental aberration, the customer can use their oil analysis report as an investigatory tool. Consider the environmental conditions, materials in use and other variables in the proximity of your machinery to help identify possible sources of the presence or increase of an unexplained element.

Below is a list of commonly tested elements and their possible sources.

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Calcium:

Hard water, salt water, oil additive, mining dust, grease, limestone, slag, rubber, Fuller’s earth, lignite, cement dust, road dust, gypsum, rust inhibitor, detergent

Vanadium:

Turbine blades, valves, fuel additive (rare)

Boron:

Coolant inhibitor, EP additive, oil drum cleansing agent, boric acid

Silver:

Bearing overlay, oil cooler solder, needle bearings, wrist pin bushing (EMD engines)

Titanium:

Gas turbine bearings, paint, turbine blades

Magnesium:

Hard water, oil additive, turbine alloy, sea water, Fuller’s earth, road dust

Potassium:

Coolant inhibitor, fly ash, paper mill dust, road dust, granite, fuel (trace levels)

Zinc:

Anti-wear additive, brass alloy, plating, galvanizing, grease

Phosphorous:

anti-wear/extreme pressure additive, gear surface finish, cleaning detergent

Barium:

Oil additive, grease, fuel additive

Lead:

Babbitt material, journal bearing overlay, gasoline additive, paint, solder, bronze alloy

Sodium:

Coolant inhibitor, salt water, oil additive, grease, base stock (trace levels), dirt, road dust, road salt, fly ash, alumina, paper mill dust

Iron:

Wear debris, steel, cast iron, rust, mill scale, ore dust, fly ash, paint, paper mill dust, asbestos, talc, zeolite, cleaning detergent

Nickel:

Stainless steel alloy, plating, stellite, hard steel alloy, valves

Chromium:

Ring plating, chrome plating paint, stainless steel

Tin:

Bearing cage, bronze alloy, solder, babbitt, flashing on journal bearings

Copper:

Anti-wear additive, bronze, brass, bearing cage, cooler core, copper mining, paint, babbitt, slinger rings, bushings, washers

Molybdenum:

Extreme pressure additive, iron alloy metal, rings

Silicon:

Road dust, sealant, anti-foam additive, steel alloy metal, synthetic lubricant, wet clutch, glass ring, coolant additive, foundry dust, filter fibers, fly ash, slag, mica, cement dust, asbestos, granite, limestone, talc

Aluminum:

Road dust, bearing metal, paint, abrasives, alumina, coal contaminant, fly ash, foundry dust, bauxite, granite, catalyst, wear debris

Grant G. Dawson - Laboratory Data Analyst, OMA I, MLA I, MLA II

www.oilanalysis101.com

Email: Grant.Dawson@us.bureauveritas.com