Oxidation Induction Time (OIT) of Lubricating Oils Tester Factory

Determining Oxidation Stability with the Oxidation Induction Time of Lubricating Oils Tester

Introduction
Oxidative degradation shortens lubricant life by forming acids, sludge, and varnish, which can impair machinery and increase maintenance costs. The Oxidation Induction Time (OIT) of Lubricating Oils Tester from Changsha Friend Experimental Analysis Instrument Co., Ltd. provides a rapid assessment of oil oxidation resistance under accelerated conditions, enabling formulators and maintenance engineers to predict service intervals and compare antioxidant packages.

Testing Principle
Following methods such as ASTM D3895 or ASTM D6186, a small sample (typically 50 µL) of lubricant is placed in a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) chamber or an accelerated oxidation cell. Under a constant temperature (e.g., 200 °C) and a pure oxygen atmosphere (100 mL/min), the instrument detects the exothermic onset of oxidation. The time elapsed from oxygen exposure to the rapid heat release defines the OIT. Longer induction times indicate better oxidative stability.

Design Highlights

• Temperature-Controlled Oxidation Cell: Heats samples to 150–250 °C with ±0.2 °C stability.

• High-Purity Oxygen Delivery: Mass-flow controller regulates oxygen flow at 100 mL/min ±1%.

• Sensitive Heat-Flow Detection: DSC sensors detect exothermic signals with µW resolution.

• Automated Data Analysis: Software identifies onset point, calculates OIT, and exports results in tabulated or graphical form.

• Sample Carousel: Allows sequential testing of up to eight samples for high throughput.

Industry Applications

• Lubricant R&D: Screen base oils and antioxidant additive packages during formulation development.

• Quality Control Laboratories: Verify batch-to-batch consistency in oxidation resistance.

• Predictive Maintenance: Estimate remaining useful life of in-service lubricants by comparison with fresh oil OIT values.

• Equipment Manufacturers: Validate recommended oil change intervals for gearboxes, turbines, and hydraulic systems.

Best Practices

1. Sample Handling: Avoid prior air exposure by sealing samples until measurement to prevent premature oxidation.

2. Cell Cleaning: Clean oxidation cells between runs to eliminate residual oxidation products.

3. Reference Standards: Run standard oils with known induction times as a control with each test sequence.

4. Environmental Control: Maintain laboratory temperature and humidity within specified ranges to ensure repeatability.

By applying this OIT tester, users gain a clear, quantitative metric of lubricant oxidative stability—supporting formulation optimization and maintenance planning that minimize oxidation-related downtime.