Hydraulic Fluid and Lubricant Characterization Facility

In support of our capability in hydraulic fluid and lubricant characterization, we are equipped to perform both routine and specialized evaluations of hydraulic fluids, gas turbine oils, lubricants and greases. We can do all of the testing required for a large number of specifications.

Testing can include extreme environmental conditions such as temperature (-54 C to 400 C), humidity, oxidation and corrosion, and high pressures. Determinations that can be made are flow measurements by viscometer or rheometer, water content, acidity, particle distribution, contaminates by gas and supercritical fluid chromatography, wear analysis, and oxidation-corrosion stability, to name a few.

Using a specialized hydraulic fluid stand we can determine the performance of hydraulic fluids using actual pumps from aircraft. The fluid can be characterized for air content by gas chromatography, water content, acidity, four-ball wear, and capillary viscosity.

To discuss your lubricant characterization and evaluation needs, please contact George W. Fultz.

We use this particle size analyzer to evaluate hydraulic fluids for the military.  These may be qualification samples or samples from field problems.

We have completed extensive pump testing of hydraulic fluids. This stand can be modified for the evaluation of hydraulic fluids using various hydraulic fluid pumps.

Below are many of the tests that we can perform.

Method Number	Method Title
ASTM D-91	Precipitation Number of Lubricating Oils
ASTM D-92	Flash & Fire Points by Cleveland Open Cup
ASTM D-93	Flash Points by Pensky-Martens Closed Tester
ASTM D-97	Pour Point of Petroleum Oils
ASTM D-130	Detection of Copper Corrosion from Petroleum Products by the Copper Strip Tarnish Test
ASTM F-313	Insoluble Contamination of Hydraulic Fluids by Gravimetric Analysis
ASTM D-445	Kinematic Viscosities using Cannon-Manning Semi-Micro Viscometer for Transparent Liquids
ASTM D-664	Acid Number of Petroleum Products by Potentiometric Titration
ASTM D-892	Foaming Characteristics of Lubrication Oils
ASTM D-972	Evaporation Loss of Lubricating Grease and Oils
ASTM D-1403	Cone Penetration of Lubricating Grease Using One-Quarter Cone Equipment
ASTM D-1744	Water Content in Liquid Petroleum Products by Karl Fischer Reagent
ASTM E-1064	Water Content in Organic Liquids by Coulometric Karl Fischer Titration
ASTM D-2266	Wear Preventive Characteristics of Lubricating Grease (Four-Ball Method)
ASTM D-2595	Evaporation Loss of Lubricating Grease Over Wide Temperature Range
ASTM D-2603	Sonic Shear Stability on Polymer-Containing Oils
ASTM D-3366	Performance Characteristics of Lubricating Grease in Ball Bearings at Elevated Temperature (Pope Spindle)
ASTM D-4048	Detection of Copper Corrosion From Lubricating Grease by the Copper Strip Tarnish Test
ASTM D-4172	Wear Preventive Characteristics of Lubricating Fluid (Four-Ball Method)
ASTM D-4636	Corrosiveness and Oxidation Stability of Hydraulic Oils, Aircraft Turbine Engine Lubricants, and Other Highly Refined Oils
ASTM D-4898	Insoluble Contamination of Hydraulic Fluids by Gravimetric Analysis
FED-STD-791-321	Oil Separation from Lubricating Grease
FED-STD-791-3603	Swelling of Synthetic Rubber
FED-STD-791-5308	Corrosiveness and Oxidation Stability of Light Oils (Metal Squares)
MIL-H-53119	Corrosion Rate Evaluation Procedure (CREP) for CTFE Hydraulic Fluids
MIL-H-83282	Linear Flame Propagation Rate
MIL-H-87257	High Temperature Stability (Purged with Nitrogen)