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Viscosity measurement of industrial oils using the droplet quartz crystal microbalance.

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<mark>Journal publication date</mark>1/11/2003
<mark>Journal</mark>Measurement Science and Technology
Issue number11
Volume14
Number of pages8
Pages (from-to)1955-1962
Publication StatusPublished
<mark>Original language</mark>English

Abstract

The application of the droplet quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) to the measurement of viscosity for industrial oils is reported. In this approach a small-volume droplet of fluid is investigated via its influence on the resonant frequency of a quartz oscillator. The droplet QCM viscosity response is investigated for a selection of industrial oils, including commercial automotive lubricants, heavy fuel oils, calibration oils and used automotive lubricating oils. This approach shows significant analytical promise for distinguishing between heavy fuel oils dyed to indicate their duty status. It is also demonstrated that lubricating oils aged in engine tests exhibit an enhanced QCM viscosity response than accepted viscosity measurements would otherwise indicate. The locus at which the viscosity response saturates due to violation of the small loading approximation (extreme viscosities) is identified and found to be qualitatively consistent with established equivalent circuit models. The identification of commercial lubricating oils is observed to be unreliable on the basis of viscosity response alone.

Bibliographic note

This publication extends the research documented in an earlier pioneering article (in Langmuir) in an industrial context and is the first report of the Lancaster droplet technique applied to industrial oils, in collaboration with BNFL plc. and Castrol Technology (Adrian Jefferies: jeffera1@castrol.com, 0118 9765374). Interest has been expressed as a result of this publication directly to Prof. Joyce by academic groups in Japan and by a large multinational company, ICMFG Inc, based in Oklahoma (Darell Brehm, darellb@icmfg.com). RAE_import_type : Journal article RAE_uoa_type : General Engineering