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FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to a method of determining qualitative composition
of constituents of wear particles in lubricating oil and hydraulic fluids of
critical rotating parts.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
Wear particles generated out of wear in critical rotating equipments is
carried away by lubricating oil/hydraulic fluids. Such wear particles can
be separated from oil by standard method using rotary particles
depositor.
Normal practice is to use sophisticated equipments such as atomic
absorption/atomic emission spectrometer for determining constituents of
wear particles.
A further disadvantage associated with such a known method is the cost
factor of the equipments. Yet another disadvantage is the considerable
time period required for determination of the constituents.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
An object of this invention is to propose a method of determining
qualitative composition of constituents of wear particles in lubricating oil
and hydraulic fluids of critical rotating parts.

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Another object of this invention is to propose a method of determining
qualitative composition of constituents of wear particles in lubricating oil
and hydraulic fluids of critical rotating parts such as in power plants.
Still another object of this invention is to propose a method of
determining qualitative composition of constituents of wear particles in
lubricating oil and hydraulic fluids of critical rotating parts which is fast
and reliable.
Yet another object of this invention is to object of this invention is to
propose a method of determining qualitative composition of constituents
of wear particles in lubricating oil and hydraulic fluids of critical rotating
parts which can differentiate between polymeric particles from friction
polymers.
A further object of this invention is to propose a method of determining
qualitative composition of constituents of wear particles in lubricating oil
and hydraulic fluids of critical rotating parts which is inexpensive.
A still further object of this invention is to propose a method of
determining qualitative composition of constituents of wear particles in
lubricating oil and hydraulic fluids of critical rotating parts which can
identify corrosive wear particles from bronze or other brownish temper
colour metal particles.

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Further objects and advantages of this invention be more apparent from
the ensuing description.
At the outset of the description that follows, it is to be understood that
the ensuing description only illustrates a particular form of this
invention. However, such a particular form is only an exemplary
embodiment and is not intended to be taken restrictively to imply any
limitation on the scope of the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
According to this invention there is provided a method of determining
qualitative composition of constituents of wear particles in lubricating oil
and hydraulic fluids of critical rotating parts which comprises the steps
of:
a) separating wear particles from lubricating oil or hydraulic fluids
by applying a gravitational, magnetic and centrifugal force.
b) subjecting the separated wear particles to controlled heat
treatment,
c) determining the change in colour.
In accordance with this invention the wear particles contained in the
fluid is subjected to a first step of separation. Thus, an oil or fluid sample
is dropped onto a glass substrate having magnetic rings and capable of a
rotational force. Thus, three forces act on the particles,

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namely a gravitational, magnetic and centrifugal. Such three forces act
simultaneously and the resultant force causes a separation of the wear
particles. Thus, the first step consists in separation of the wear particles
by application of the aforesaid forces. Thus, separation of wear particles
of ferrous metal is caused by the magnate forces, gravitational force is
responsible for separation of heavy particles and the lighter particles are
separated by centrifugal force.
The next step consists in subjecting the separated particles to a heat
treatment of 220 to 600°C. The wear separated particles could consist of
alloy steel, as by way of example. Thus, if such particles are heated to a
temperature of 220°C a colour change is exhibited at such a
temperature. If no colour change is exhibited, the wear particle are then
not of low alloy steel. In such a manner, the wear particles are further
heated. Such a step consists in colour characterization. Such a change
in colour may be observed by a bi-chromatic microscope.

This invention relates to a method of determining qualitative composition of constituents of wear particles in lubricating oil and hydraulic fluids of critical rotating parts which comprises the steps of : a) separating wear particles from lubricating oil or hydraulic fluids by applying a gravitational, magnetic and centrifugal force b) subjecting the separated wear particles to controlled heat treatment, and c) determining the
change in colour.