The deterioration of lubricating oils

Aitken, W. H (1959) The deterioration of lubricating oils. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

Lubricants in use today are normally prepared from refined mineral oil fractions, and in service those oils have to withstand severe conditions of temperature and pressure. Despite the many advances in refining techniques and the use of additives, the life of an oil is still limited. In the course of duty it may became contaminated with dust, water and metal fragments rendering it less efficient as a lubricant. More important than this, however, is deterioration due to oxidation. This changes the characteristics of the oil and results in the production of such undesirable products as sludge, lacquer and acids. Unfortunately, the conditions under which lubricating oils are required to operate are precisely those which promote oxidation. Splashing of oil and resultant intimate contact with air is a feature of most engines. The principles on which internal combustion and compression ignition engines operate necessitate the air for combustion coming into contact with thin films of oil. Since high temperatures are an essential characteristic of all engines, the bulk of the oil is always at a fairly high temperature, and due to sliding notion high temperatures are momentarily developed at points where the oil is in thin films. As engine design advances and now principles of motivation, such as the gas turbine, are introduced, the above factors increase in magnitude and lubricating oils are required to withstand even more stringent conditions.

• Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Additional Information: Adviser: P D Ritchie
• Keywords: Chemical engineering, Petroleum engineering
• Date of Award: 1959
• Depositing User: Enlighten Team
• Unique ID: glathesis:1959-73625
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 14 Jun 2019 08:56
• Last Modified: 14 Jun 2019 08:56
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/73625