Analytical Capabilities

The following is a list of capabilities of the combined laboratories and a brief description of each available analysis. Other analysis is likely available upon request.

  1. Analytical Capabilities of Metalworking Lubricants Company - iStock_000005455063_SmallPCB (Polychlorobiphenyl) - EPA #SW8080. Determination in oils, waters or solids using a Hewlett Packard HP 5890 gas chromatograph. Four-ounce sample needed.
  2. BS&W - ASTM #D-1796. Determination of percentages oil, water and solids of material. Eight-ounce sample needed. 
  3. Specific Gravity and Pounds per Gallon - ASTM #D-1298.Determination of density of fluids. Eight-ounce sample needed.
  4. Viscosity and Viscosity Index - ASTM #D-445, D-2161 and D-567. Determination of viscosity of fluids at 100 deg F, 210 deg F, and 40 deg C, as well as rate of viscosity degradation with increased temperatures (index). Four-ounce sample needed. 
  5. Flash/Fire Points - ASTM #D-92. Determination of flash and fire points of fluid by Cleveland Open Cup method. Eight-ounce sample needed.
  6. Neutralization Number (Total Acid Number) - ASTM #D-974. Four ounce sample needed.
  7. Saponification Number - ASTM #D-94. Determination of saponifiable fat matter in fluids. Four-ounce sample needed.
  8. Free Fatty Acid % - ASTM #D-128. Four-ounce sample needed. 
  9. Color - ASTM #D-1500. Determination of color of fluids by a standard colorimeter. Four-ounce sample needed. 
  10. Copper Corrosion - ASTM #D-130. Eight-ounce sample needed. Rough test for performance of active sulfur products.
  11. Reserve Alkalinity - ASTM #D-1121. Four-ounce sample needed. 
  12. Water Content - ASTM #D-95. More accurate than BS&W method. Determined by Dean and Stark apparatus or Karl Fisher filtration. Four-ounce sample needed.
  13. pH - Determination of acid, alkaline or neutral characteristics of fluids by Accumet Orion meter. Eight-ounce sample needed. 
  14. Centrifuge Stability - Determination of products ability to remain homogeneous. Eight-ounce sample needed.
  15. Foaming Characteristics - Various tests to determine possible foaming problems of coolants and related materials. Eight-ounce sample needed.
  16. Freeze/Thaw Stability - Determine product stability under adverse conditions, i.e. outside storage. Eight-ounce sample needed.
  17. Oil Concentration - Determination of oil content in coolant and related materials by refractometer or acid split. Eight-ounce sample needed.
  18. Demulsibility - Determination of materials’ ability to separate from water for waste processing information. Eight-ounce sample needed.
  19. Emulsion Stability - Determine stability of coolants with added contaminants, i.e. hydraulic oil leakage. Eight-ounce sample needed.
  20. Halides - Detection of solvents in waste materials. Four-ounce sample needed.
  21. Cyanides, Nitrates, Nitrites, Sulfates, Sulfites - Detection in waste materials. Four-ounce sample needed.
  22. Normality - Determination of degree of acidity or alkalinity of waste materials. Four-ounce sample needed.
  23. Phenols - Determination of content in waste materials or often in products for the die-casting industry by Milton Roy Spectronic. Eight-ounce sample needed.
  24. Sulfur/Chlorine in Oils - Determination of total sulfur and chlorine as well as active sulfur in oils by Horiba Mesa-200. Results in weight percent. Four-ounce sample needed.
  25. Particle Count - Determination of particulate matter by size and amount. Results in ISO cleanliness code and PC/ml. MetOne Particulate Counter used. Four ounce sample needed.
  26. Metals - (A) Oils - Determination in parts per million of all wear metals. (B) Water-based - same as A. (C) Extractions - EPA leachate procedure for heavy metals content in waste oils. All of above are performed on either a Thermal Jerel Ash Inductively Coupled Plasma Emission or a Perkin Elmer Atomic Absorption. Four-ounce sample needed.
  27. TCLP - Covers all analysis required by EPA for Toxic Characteristic Leachate Procedure of waste materials. A one-gallon sample is needed in addition to any candidate waste sample of the same material. Analysis must begin within 10 days of the time sample is taken, therefore, sample should be sent immediately to the Indy lab. 
  28. PNA - EPA #3600 and 8100. Determination of pesticides and herbicides in waste materials. Four-ounce sample needed.
  29. Electroscanning Microscope
  30. Coulter Counter Oil Droplet Size in Emulsion
  31. IR & FTIR - Quantitative peak analysis of chemical family groups (i.e. - soaps, esters, acids, emulsifiers, etc.)

All samples are considered important and handled in as timely a fashion as possible. Time spent on the phone updating sample status detracts from time spent at the lab bench.