Analysis of Additive Elements in Lubricating Oil Using ICPE-9000

Introduction

Additives consisting of various types of organic metal substances are added to lubricating oils to enhance performance. They include detergents (to prevent and inhibit the deposition of degradation products formed during high-temperature operation of engines, etc.), antioxidants (which react with free radicals and peroxides to suppress the formation of varnish and sludge that originate during oxidation of oil), corrosion inhibitors (to neutralize the corrosive oxidation products formed due to degradation of the lubricant), solid lubricants (used as powder or thin film to reduce friction and wear), etc. Analysis of these additive elements is important for quality management of lubricating oils, and ICP emission spectrometry is one of the effective methods available for this analysis. Here, using the ICPE-9000 multitype inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometer, we conducted analysis of additive elements in commercially available engine oil, ATF oil and gear oil. The ICPE-9000 can simultaneously measure multiple elements, and quickly analyze many additive elements.

March 27, 2012 GMT