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) |