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ASTM Selected Technical Papers
Oxidation and the Testing of Turbine Oils
By
Cyril A. Migdal
Cyril A. Migdal
1
Chemtura Corporation
,
Middlebury, Connecticut,
USA
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Andrea B. Wardlow
Andrea B. Wardlow
2
ExxonMobil Research & Engineering
,
Paulsboro, New Jersey,
USA
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Jo L. Ameye
Jo L. Ameye
3
Fluitec International
,
Brussels,
Belgium
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ISBN:
978-0-8031-3493-5
No. of Pages:
121
Publisher:
ASTM International
Publication date:
2008

Traditionally, long established oxidation tests such as TOST (ASTM D 943-03) and RPVOT (ASTM D 2272-02) in combination with the acid number (ASTM D 974-03) test has been used to screen the oxidation stability of turbine oils. Lately, nevertheless, a new voltammetric method has been applied to measure the remaining useful life (RUL) of turbine oils, RULER™ (ASTM D 6971-03) as it uses microlitre amounts of sample and needs only a short testing time. The aim of this study is to examine the correlation between the RULER™ voltammetric test in comparison to the standing oxidation turbine methods, TOST and RPVOT.Three fully formulated commercially available oils were studied; two were based on synthetic esters and one was mineral oil based. In addition, other oils were tested in our laboratories in Norway and Sweden in order to investigate the correlation between RULER™ and RPVOT oxidation stability tests. Field samples were also used to evaluate those methods.Although those studies have been worthwhile, reaching a definite conclusion regarding correlations has proven to be somewhat difficult. It is clear, however, that by a careful methodology, a useful correlation for the investigated oil types may be obtained. For example, guide limits for RULER™ results and their correlation to RPVOT values were established.

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,
R.
and
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,
S.
, “
Chemistry and Technology of Lubricant
, 2nd ed.,”
Blackie Academic & Professional
,
1997
.
2.
Jefferies
,
A.
and
Ameye
,
J.
, “
RULER™ and Used Engine Oil Analysis Programs
,”
Lubr. Eng.
 0024-7154, Vol.
54
, p. 29.
3.
Ameye
,
J.
and
Kauffman
,
R. E.
, “
Antioxidant Analysis for Monitoring Remaining Useful Life of Turbine Fluids
,”
Turbine Lubrication in the 21st Century
, ASTM STP 1407,
ASTM International
,
West Conshohecken, PA
,
2001
.
4.
Herguth
,
W.
and
Phillips
,
S.
, “
Comparison of Common Analytical Techniques to Voltammetric Analysis of Antioxidants in Industrial Lubricants Oils
,” STLE 1994 Annual Meeting,
Kansas City
.
5.
ASTM Standard D 2272-02, “
Oxidation Stability of Steam Turbine Oils by Rotating Bomb
,” Book Of Standards
ASTM International
,
West Conshohecken, PA
, Vol.
05.01
2006
.
6.
Totten
,
G.
,
Westbrook
,
S. R.
, and
Shah
,
R. J.
, “
Fuels and Lubrication Handbook: Technology, Properties, Performance and Testing
,”
ASTM International
West Conshohocken, PA
,
2003
.
7.
Kauffman
,
R. E.
, “
Remaining Useful Life Measurements of Diesel Engine Oils, Automotive Engine Oils, Hydraulic Fluids, and Greases Using Cyclic Voltammetric Methods
,”
Lubr. Eng.
 0024-7154, Vol.
51
,
1994
, p. 223.
8.
Van Leeumen
,
W.
, “
Use of RULER™ for the Determination of Critical Antioxidant Concentration in Ester Base Hydraulic Fluids
,” Quarker Chemical, presented at the STLE Annual Meeting,
Detroit
,
1998
; and AISE Annual Meeting, September 1998.
9.
ASTM Standard D 974-03, “
Standard Test Method for Acid and Base Number by Color Indicator Titration
,” Book of Standards, 05.01,
ASTM International
,
West Conshohocken, PA
,
2006
.
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