Fluid Analysis Laboratory 

The Fluid Analysis laboratory routinely conducts research to understand the interactions of fuels, lubricants, and refrigerants with a variety of materials under various operating conditions. Our primary area of expertise involves monitoring additive depletion and resulting degradation mechanisms. Based on our customer’s requirements, we have developed laboratory and on-line analytical methods to monitor fluids operating in a wide range of industrial processes and equipment.

Equipment we have used to develop analytical techniques to meet customer’s needs include: gas chromatography, liquid chromatography, viscosity sensors, Karl-Fisher coulometry, cyclic voltammetry, RULER antioxidant instrument, PERFECT hydroperoxide instrument, and direct current plasma spectrometry (DCP).

Work in this laboratory has led to the development of ARI and ASTM international standards, numerous papers and reports, five patents, and articles in the mass media, especially for our work to develop new off-line and on-line sensors for monitoring the condition of in-service lubricants and fuels, and most recently for research on the link between fuel deposits and fuel tank explosions in aircraft.

Robert Kauffman demonstrating the combustion hazard of conductive residues formed by silver-plated parts and low sulfur fuels in commercial airline fuel tanks.	One of several on-line oil condition sensors developed by the Fluid Analysis laboratory for the Joint Strike Fighter engine.