Elemental Analysis Reports
Elemental Analysis, or Spectroscopy, identifies the type and amount of wear particles, contamination, and oil additives within a fluid. Determining metal content can alert you to the type and severity of wear occurring within the unit. Measurements are expressed in parts per million (ppm).
Wear Metals. Identifying the combinations of wear metals within an engine or hydraulic system can identify components within the machine that are wearing. Knowing what metals a unit is made of can greatly influence an analyst’s recommendations and determine the value of elemental analysis.
Contaminant Metals. Knowledge of the environmental conditions under which a unit operates can explain varying levels of contaminant metals. Excessive levels of dust and dirt can be abrasive and accelerate wear.
Multi-Source and Additive Metals. These metals may turn up in test results for a variety of reasons. Molybdenum, antimony, and boron are additives in some oils. Magnesium, calcium, and barium are often used in detergent/dispersant additives. Phosphorus is used as an extreme pressure additive in gear oils. Along with zinc, phosphorus is also used in anti-wear additives.
The chart below can be used as a quick reference to determine possible wear metal sources:
| Wear Metals | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metal | Engines | Transmissions | Gears | Hydraulics |
| Iron (Fe) | Cylinder Liners, Rings, Gears, Crankshaft, Camshaft, Valve Train, Oil Pump Gear, Wrist Pins | Gears, Disks, Housing, Bearings, Brake Bands, Shaft | Gears, Bearings, Shaft, Housing | Rods, Cylinders, Gears |
| Chromium (Cr) | Rings, Liners, Exhaust Valves, Shaft Plating, Stainless Steel Alloy | Roller Bearings | Roller Bearings | Shaft |
| Aluminum (Al) | Pistons, Thrust Bearings, Turbo Bearings, Main Bearings(Cat) | Pumps, Thrust Washers | Pumps, Thrust Washers | Bearings, Thrust Plates |
| Nickel (Ni) | Valve Plating, Steel Alloy from Crankshaft, Camshaft, Gears from Heavy Bunker Type Diesel Fuels | Steel Alloy from Roller Bearings and Shaft | Steel Alloy from Roller Bearings and Shaft | N/A |
| Copper (Cu) | Lube Coolers, Main and Rod Bearings, Bushings, Turbo Bearings, Lube Additive | Bushings, Clutch Plates(Auto/Power shift), Lube Coolers | Bushings, Thrust Plates | Bushings, Thrust Plates, Lube Coolers |
| Lead (Pb) | Main and Rod Bearings, Bushings, Lead Solder | Bushings(Bronze Alloy), Lube Additive Supplement | Bushings(Bronze Alloy), Grease Contamination | Bushings(Bronze Alloy) |
| Tin (Sn) | Piston Flashing, Bearing Overlay, Bronze Alloy, Babbit Metal along with Copper and Lead | Bearing Cage Metal | Bearing Cage Metal, Lube Additive | N/A |
| Cadmium (Cd) | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Silver (Ag) | Wrist Pin Bushings(EMD’s), Silver Solder(from Lube Coolers) | Torrington Needle Bearings(Allison Transmission) | N/A | Silver Solder(from Lube Coolers) |
| Titanium (Ti) | Gas Turbine Bearings/Hub/Blades, Paint(White Lead) | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Vanadium (V) | From Heavy Bunker Type Diesel Fuels | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Contaminant Metals | ||||
| Metal | Engines | Transmissions | Gears | Hydraulics |
| Silicon (Si) | Dirt, Seals and Sealants, Coolant Inhibitor, Lube Additive(15 ppm or less) | Dirt, Seals and Sealants, Coolant Inhibitor, Lube Additive(15 ppm or less) | Dirt, Seals and Sealants, Coolant Inhibitor, Lube Additive(15 ppm or less) | Dirt, Seals and Sealants, Coolant Inhibitor, Lube Additive(15 ppm or less) |
| Sodium (Na) | Lube Additive, Coolant Inhibitor, Salt Water Contamination, Wash Detergents | Lube Additive, Coolant Inhibitor, Salt Water Contamination, Wash Detergents | Lube Additive, Salt Water Contamination, Airborne Contaminate | Lube Additive, Coolant Inhibitor, Salt Water Contamination, Airborne Contaminate |
| Potassium (K) | Coolant Inhibitor, Airborne Contaminate | Coolant Inhibitor, Airborne Contaminate | Coolant Inhibitor, Airborne Contaminate | Coolant Inhibitor, Airborne Contaminate |
| Multi Source Metals | ||||
| Metal | Engines | Transmissions | Gears | Hydraulics |
| Molybdenum (Mo) | Ring Plating, Lube Additive, Coolant Inhibitor | Lube Additive, Coolant Inhibitor | Lube Additive, Coolant Inhibitor, Grease Additive | Lube Additive, Coolant Inhibitor |
| Antimony (Sb) | Lube Additive | Lube Additive | Lube Additive | Lube Additive |
| Manganese (Mn) | Steel Alloy | Steel Alloy | Steel Alloy | Steel Alloy |
| Lithium (Li) | N/A | Lithium Complex Grease | Lithium Complex Grease | Lithium Complex Grease |
| Boron (B) | Lube Additive, Coolant Inhibitor | Lube Additive, Coolant Inhibitor | Lube Additive, Coolant Inhibitor | Lube Additive, Coolant Inhibitor |
| Additive Metals | ||||
| Metal | Engines | Transmissions | Gears | Hydraulics |
| Magnesium (Mg) | Detergent Dispersant Additive, Airborne Contaminant at some sites | Detergent Dispersant Additive, Airborne Contaminant at some sites | Detergent Dispersant Additive, Airborne Contaminant at some sites | Detergent Dispersant Additive, Airborne Contaminant at some sites |
| Calcium (Ca) | Detergent Dispersant Additive, Airborne Contaminant at some sites, Contaminant from Water | Detergent Dispersant Additive, Airborne Contaminant at some sites, Contaminant from Water | Detergent Dispersant Additive, Airborne Contaminant at some sites, Contaminant from Water | Detergent Dispersant Additive, Airborne Contaminant at some sites, Contaminant from Water |
| Barium (Ba) | Usually an Additive from Synthetic Lubricants | Usually an Additive from Synthetic Lubricants | Usually an Additive from Synthetic Lubricants | Usually an Additive from Synthetic Lubricants |
| Phosphorus (P) | Anti-Wear Additive(ZDP) | Anti-Wear Additive(ZDP) | Anti-Wear Additive(ZDP), EP Additive(Extreme Pressure) | Anti-Wear Additive(ZDP) |
| Zinc (Zn) | Anti-Wear Additive(ZDP) | Anti-Wear Additive(ZDP) | Anti-Wear Additive(ZDP) | Anti-Wear Additive(ZDP) |