Evaluation of Various Methods to Detect Metallic Wear Particles in Lube OilFilter Debris

摘要

Studies were conducted to evaluate methods of detecting metallic wear particlesin lube oil filter debris. The methods studied were low temperature oxidation of the organic constituents in the debris, separation of ferromagnetic particles by passage through a magnetic field, and counting/sizing of metallic particles in a fluid stream using a commercially available detector. Laboratory-prepared simulations of wear debris and actual filter debris samples from operational military aircraft systems were used in the evaluation. The relative ability of each method to detect metallic wear particles is discussed, along with the effects of each method on subsequent debris examination.