Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Contaminants
Limit Gear Life
By Mary Moon, Ph.D.
Lubricant Cleanliness
A particle counter instrument measures the concentration of microscopic particles
(p/ml, or particles per milliliter) in a lubricant. The lubricant cleanliness can then be
rated according to standard ISO 4406:1999 Method for coding the level of contamination by solid particles.6 The rating consists of three codes (A/B/C). The first code (A)
focuses on the concentration of particles with a diameter of 4 m (microns, or 10- 6
meters). Codes B and C are concentrations of particles with a diameter of 6 m and
14 m, respectively. For example, 16/14/12 indicates the lubricant contains:
between 320 and 640 p/ml (particle diameter 4 m);
b etween 80 and 160 p/ml (particle diameter 6 m);
b etween 20 and 40 p/ml (particle diameter 14 m).
In other words, a 55-gallon drum of 16/14/12 lubricant contains the equivalent of 10
drops of contaminant particles, which are invisible to the human eye. 1
Microscopic Damage
Cost of Damage
Macroscopic Damage
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More Than
(p/ml)
(p/ml)
80,000
160,000
24
40,000
80,000
23
Particle Size
Effects on Equipment
20,000
40,000
22
10,000
20,000
21
5,000
10,000
20
2,500
5,000
19
1,300
2,500
18
Particles = Gap
640
1,300
17
320
640
16
160
320
15
80
160
14
40
80
13
20
40
12
10
20
11
10
10
2.5
1.3
2.5
Table 2: Damage depends upon the sizes of the particles relative to the gaps between bearing surfaces.1
june 2009
29
Final
*/20/17
*/19/16
*/18/15
*/17/14
*/16/13
*/15/12
* /14/11
*/26/23
X5
X7
X9
X > 10
X > 10
X > 10
X > 10
*/24/21
X3
X4
X6
X7
X9
X > 10
X > 10
*/22/19
X 1.6
X2
X3
X4
X5
X7
X8
*/20/17
--
X 1.3
X 1.6
X2
X3
X4
X5
*/19/16
--
--
X 1.3
X 1.6
X2
X3
X4
Initial
Key Points
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Final
*/20/17
*/19/16
*/18/15
*/17/14
*/16/13
*/15/12
* /14/11
*/26/23
X 2.5
X3
X 3.5
X4
X5
X 6.5
X7
*/24/21
X 1.5
X2
X 2.5
X3
X4
X5
X6
*/22/19
X 1.1
X 1.3
X 1.7
X2
X2.5
X3
X 3.5
*/20/17
--
X 1.05
X 1.3
X 1.4
X 1.7
X2
X 2.5
*/19/16
--
--
X 1.1
X 1.3
X 1.5
X 1.7
X2
Initial
In Technical Terms
june 2009
31
Acknowledgments:
437
References:
1) M
. Moon. Trends in Food Science and Technology,
Vol. 18, Supplement 1. January 2007, p. S74S88.
2) J. Fitch. Practicing Oil Analysis magazine. Sept.
2005.
3) B
asic Handbook of Lubrication, 2nd Ed. Society of
Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers. 2003.
4) L. Leugner. The Practical Handbook of Machinery
32
gearsolutions.com
28) K
. Nicholas, R. Winslow, and T. Naman. Reliable
Plant magazine. Aug. 2006.
29) J. Duchowski and K. Collins: www.noria.com/
learning_center/category_article.asp?articleid=5
12&relatedbookgrou...
30) J. Harris and N. Nesland: www.noria.com/learning_center/category_article.asp?articleid=83&r
elatedbookgrou...
31) B
. Kuhnell: www.noria.com/learning_center/category_article.asp?articleid=732&relatedbookgro
u...
32) R. Errichello and J. Muller. Practicing Oil Analysis
magazine. July 2002.
33) R
. Sales and P. Macpherson. ASTM STP 771, p.
255-274. 1982.
Li Gear, Inc.
june 2009
33