Remaining Grease Life testing by
Voltammetry –
Applying condition monitoring practices on lubricating greases is much more
complex as once these greases are put into service, it becomes rather difficult
for end-users to perform on-site grease condition monitoring, and define the
correct frequency for re-greasing bearings. This explains why industry rely for
grease-lubricated systems procedures on time-based intervals (preventive
maintenance).
In a recent program carried out at Tekniker Spain, research was performed with a
grease based on a mineral base oil and lithium soap as a thickener. The grease
was subjected to changes of temperature at intervals with a view to discovering
its condition under the application of different techniques, more specifically:
Acid Number (AN), LSV (linear sweep voltammetry - RULER) and FTIR on the grease
and its corresponding oil, viscosity, ICP and DSC. Beside the maximum
information that the selected analytical techniques should give on the grease
condition, the program also evaluated the minimum quantity of sample, minimum
time and the cost of analyis.
In this study, all different technologies available on the matter, which allowed
this laboratory to optimise the frecuency of grease changes. The paper below
shows different techniques used and the results obtained.
This paper has also been published at ELGI AGM meeting, May 2005 in Edinburgh,
and is entitled:
COMPARING DIFFERENT ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES TO MONITOR
LUBRICATING GREASE DEGRADATION
Authors: Estíbaliz Aranzabe, Arrate Marcaide, Raquel Ferret, Jesús
Terradillos
Tekniker, Centro Technologico Avia. Otaola, 20, Eibar, Spain
If you require a copy of that paper, feel free to contact us by
sending us an e-mail to info@fluitec.com,
and we will be pleased to forward you an electronic copy of the paper.
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