• Elemental analysis is used to evaluate and quantify wear metal elements, additive elements, contamination elements and trace metal elements.  Wear metals are analyzed to pinpoint problem areas through trend analysis.  By analyzing the additive elements the oil classification of a sample can be verified, i.e. hydraulic oil, transmission fluid, or engine oil.  Test results are obtained by I.C.P. (Inductive Coupling Plasma) atomic emission spectrometer and is reported in terms of parts per million (ppm) for elemental metals from 0.1 to 8 micrometers (um) by ASTM-D-5185. Contamination elements are reviewed to determine lubricant serviceability and to pinpoint causes of problems indicated by other test results.

   Following elements are the typical twenty-(21) sources of the elements analyzed and their function in a component:

  Wear                 Additive                  Contaminants   Trace          
  Iron - Fe              Molybdenum  - Mo    Sodium - Na       Vanadium - V
  Chromium - Cr     Magnesium - Mg       Silicon - Si         Titanium - Ti
  Aluminum - Al      Calcium - Ca            Potassium - K    Cadmium - Cd
  Copper - Cu         Barium  - Ba             Boron - B
  Lead - Pb            Phosphorus - P
  Tin - Sn               Zinc - Zn
  Silver - Ag
  Nickel - Ni