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Demystifying Sludge and Varnish
The approach of detecting and analyzing sludge and varnish problems in machinery is not the same as used oil analysis. In many instances this is because the evidence is not always in the oil. Read More
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Review of Degradation Mechanisms Leading to Sludge and Varnish in Modem Turbine Oil Formulations
A wide range of fluid degradation and contamination-related issues can affect turbine lube oil systems. One serious and growing concern is the presence of sludge and varnish. Read More
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Ten Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Air Contamination
Anybody who has been in the lubrication field for at least a couple of years has likely been badgered by problems relating to air contamination. Indeed, aeration and foam present many serious reliability concerns which merit immediate attention by machinery maintainers. Read More
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Sludge and Varnish in Turbine Systems
The products of lubricant degradation are called sludge and varnish. These products start in the dissolved form and accumulate until the lubricant reaches its capacity, referred to as the saturating point, forcing any excess to convert into insoluble degradation products. Read More
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The Surface Tension Test – Is It Worth Resurrecting?
In all of my years in oil analysis, I cannot recall a single time when data from a surface tension (ST) or interfacial tension test (IFT) appeared on a routine analytical report, aside from transformer oil analysis, for which the test is considered routine. Read More