Elemental Spectroscopy of Used Lubricants

Elemental Spectroscopy of Used Lubricant is a non-destructive oil analysis technique that provides insight into both machine condition and lubricant health. A small sample of used oil is taken from the system and analyzed using methods such as Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) or Rotating Disc Electrode (RDE) Atomic Emission Spectroscopy. The test detects and quantifies: Wear metals (iron, copper, aluminum, chromium, tin): Indicating component wear such as bearings, gears, pistons, or valves. Contaminants (silica, sodium, coolant additives, fuel): Showing ingress of dirt, coolant leakage, or fuel dilution. Additives (zinc, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium): Monitoring lubricant formulation and depletion over time. By trending these results, maintenance teams can identify abnormal wear, contamination, or oil breakdown before failure occurs, enabling condition-based interventions. It is widely applied in aerospace, automotive, marine, power generation, and heavy industry where reliability and uptime are critical.