Portable Method

Optimized for On-Site

Determination of Wear
Metals & Additives in
Lubricating Oil

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Olympus Scientific Solutions
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Portable Method Optimized for On-Site Determination of Wear Metals & Additives in
Lubricating Oil
Large engines operate under extreme temperatures, vibration and heavy loads. They are
strongly subject to excessive wear if lubricant performance deteriorates. Consequently, the
analysis of wear metals and additives in lubricating oils is crucial to their proper maintenance
and functioning. This includes many types of industrial and military machinery and heavy
transportation engines: rail, aircraft, marine, and trucking.
The monitoring of wear metals such as copper, iron, nickel, and vanadium in engine oils, and
the verification of additive elements for depletion such as phosphorus, calcium and zinc,
provide key information for proactive maintenance. Such programs reduce unscheduled
downtime, extend engine lifetime, and reduce costly part replacements, and unnecessary oil
changes.
Elemental analysis is fundamental to routine oil testing and machine failure diagnostics.
Although several methods exist, Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) technology has
grown in acceptance due to its nondestructive and rapid simultaneous multi-element
measurement capability. However, XRF has historically been thought of as a research method
used only by PhD-level scientists in the lab.
A self-contained and easy-to-use portable EDXRF analyzer,
the Olympus X-5000, is now available for on-site analysis.
Oil samples typically drawn into bottles and sent to the lab
for analysis can now be measured directly where and
when needed with simultaneous multi-element
measurement speed and portable analysis convenience.
The X-5000 is optimized for accurate determinations of
trace to percent levels of elements in fuels, oils, used and unused lubricants as well as tank
bottom sludge contaminants such as mercury and arsenic. The X-5000 provides performance,
power and portability in a safe, closed-beam compact unit with on-board system control and
data analysis. This convenient XRF system allows for the analysis of corrosive and abrasive wear
metal content in oil drained from marine engines, mining trucks, or large oil and gas machinery,
well before failures occur.

Routine monitoring of the lubricating condition with the X-5000 allows the best balance
between lubricant consumption and engine wear. The X-5000 can be taken directly to the
engine, gearbox or turbine for on-the-spot analysis to determine lubricating system
efficiency, early detection of potential component failures, or verification of aging indicator
additive elements. On-site analysis and real-time monitoring reduce costs and allow
immediate corrective action to be taken.
Portable
The X-5000 is engineered to be used anywhere - in the field,
at air terminals, on board a ship, at fleet maintenance
facilities, on the back of a truck or in any inspection area. The
fully interlocked, closed beam system ensures operator
safety. It is packaged into an easy-to-carry, 22 lb. battery
operated unit with integrated PC and industrialized large
touch screen. The X-5000 EDXRF elemental analyzer is truly
field-portable.
Simple Sample Presentation
Sample preparation or daily calibration is not required for the
X-5000. Oil is poured into the sample bottle and topped with
a prolene disk and secured with an open cap. The sample
positioning tray accommodates all sample cups and bottles.
The X-5000s deck tray has an additional prolene safety foil to
protect the detector and X-ray tube. This unique sample tray
ensures proper placement of the sample every time for
accurate analysis. It accommodates both bottles and cups of
any size. Through a thin transparent film, oil is analyzed
without any secondary fluorescence emitted.
Fast, Precise and Accurate Results
The Ag anode configuration and a dedicated calibration method for hydrocarbon samples
enables required low concentration metal analysis as well as enhanced detection limits for
light elements such as sulfur, phosphorus and chlorine. Analysis times are 2 to 3 minutes
per sample. Additionally, the large Silicon Drift Detector (SDD) provides superior results and
enhanced limits of detection compared to a Silicon Pin (SiPin) detector.
Comprehensive Analysis yet Easy to Use
The X-5000 is an excellent solution for analyzing elements and metals in petroleum and water
based samples. It can detect elements and metals from low PPM levels to virtually 100%. This
fast and accurate EDXRF measurement method can be used in the field or the lab. Its large
screen display and onboard PC controls full operation in any analysis environment.. The
instruments fast startup time, coupled with the display of results in seconds, gives a very
quick and quantitative report of the sample composition. It provides spectral overlay, easy
peak identification and elemental concentrations with RSD values. Data is stored automatically
in a tamper-proof format within the on-board PC. Multiple method algorithms are optionally
available including fundamental parameters (FP), Compton normalization, empirical
calibration models and spectral matching.

For information about the Olympus X-5000 please visit our website at:
www.olympus-ims.com/en/xrf-xrd/mobile-xrf/x-5000.