Testoil recently updated its varnish potential analysis package by adding several test procedures and upgrading its custom report. The changes are in line with the company's commitment to improve the methodologies and technologies used in its laboratory.
"One significant change to the test process is related to reporting particle counts by two different methods (pore blockage/optical)," explains Eric Ambrose, Testoil's director of technical operations. "When there is a significant difference in ISO codes between the two methods, this suggests a possible reason could be the presence of soft contaminants. This additional test gives the lab another means of detecting the presence of soft insoluble products or other anomalies present in the sample."
Another significant upgrade is the inclusion of Testoil's FTIR analysis for turbine oil. The data interpretation has been improved to generate new parameters for a more detailed analysis of the turbine oil’s health. The new parameters in the varnish potential analysis solution include thermal event acid, acid oxidation, ester, aromatic additive, base oil aromatic, amine antioxidants and phenolic antioxidants.
Testoil's varnish potential analysis report has always featured images of the ultra-centrifuge (UC) tube used to determine UC value, as well as images of the membrane patch colorimetry (MPC) to determine color value. As part of the recent revision, the report now offers data retrieved from the iLab documenting the L, a, b color scale. The L, a, b values provide additional information on the particular varnish degradation mode and the effectiveness of filtration targeting specific varnish modes.
For more information, visit www.testoil.com.
