Globally, heavy machinery is used in construction, mining, and a variety of other areas. As the scale of the operations increase, the size, complexity, and cost of the equipment also increase, meaning that breakdowns can be costly, both in equipment repair and lost revenue. As a result, preventive maintenance is paramount. Lubricants are among the key fluids that can be tested, especially the oil used in engines. By monitoring the elemental concentration of the oil or other lubricants (hydraulics, transmission, gear), the status of that compartment can be determined.
This work demonstrates the ability of the Avio® 550 Max fully simultaneous ICP-OES to meet the criteria of ASTM Method D5185 for the analysis of in-service oils. When used in conjunction with the ASXpress, sample throughput is dramatically increased, meeting the needs of high-volume labs.