Asset Selection in Oil Analysis Services
23 de December de 2022
The RULER test is carried out in accordance with ASTM D6971. It is generally used in the analysis of turbines or hydraulic fluids and can be correlated with other tests that assess lubricant degradation, such as:
- Varnish formation potential,
- RBOT,
- Oxidation,
- Acid number (TAN).
This method is based on the voltammetric determination of antioxidants, such as phenols and aromatic amines. For this purpose, an aliquot of the sample is added to an organic solution in order to extract the antioxidant compounds.
Subsequently, the additives are quantified from a current passing through the measuring cell, depending on the applied potential, which generates a graph like the one shown in Figure 1:
Graph of RULER Test Results
To quantify these additives in the used lubricant, it is necessary to collect a sample of the same lubricant in its fresh state and use its additive profile as a reference.
The next step involves overlaying both profiles, allowing the quantification of phenols and aromatic amines using the RULER Test, with results expressed as a percentage.
The main benefits of this analysis are:
- Monitoring of lubricant additives,
- Correlation of their concentration with degradation, through a reliable and accurate analysis.
Would you like to apply this test to your assets? Get in touch with us!
