Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy applied to the analysis of wear metals in lubricating oil and related studies.

Abstract

The accurate determination of wear metals in lubricating fluids is of great potential value in the proper maintainence of all types of machinery. Savings of both time and money have been reported in the military and civilian sectors following the implementation of routine wear metal screening in lubricating oils. Current methods are known to discriminate against metals present in the form of particulates. The first part of this dissertation focusses on the direct determination of wear metals in lubricating oils by atomic emission spectroscopy utilizing an inverted inductively coupled plasma as a source. Data are presented which show the effects of power and viewing position on the signal intensity of a variety of sized iron particulate samples in lubricating oil. The second part of this dissertation describes the characterization of a relatively new spectroscopic source--the dual inductively coupled plasma (DICP). The DICP increases the residence time of the analyte in the source by extending the physical length of the plasma discharge and providing two energy deposition regions. Emission intensity, electron density, ion-to-atom intensity ratios, and calculated temperatures are used to compare the DICP with standard inductively coupled plasmas recorded in the literature.