In the late 1980s, I took one of the hardest courses of my graduate studies - quantum mechanics. Quantum mechanics is the physics and math behind how all matter is formed and interacts with the world around it. Amongst other things, quantum mechanics can answer some...
Articles
Yes, Lubricants Have a Shelf Life Too. Here’s How to Extend It.
Most lubricant products include a "best before date" on the packaging and labeling materials. Provided as a "when to use by" guide, these dates are based on a manufacturer's projected shelf life of a product when stored as directed, per information on its packaging....
How Varnish Is Destroying Your Hydraulic System (And How to Stop It)
It is common to hear about deposits or varnish in turbine oils, but can other oils also suffer from varnish? The short answer is yes. Once an oil (regardless of its application or type) has been exposed to thermally stressful conditions, contaminants, and severe...
How to Interpret Industrial Oil Analysis Data Like A Pro
In the complex world of industrial machine maintenance, ensuring the health and longevity of industrial equipment is paramount. Industrial oil analysis plays a crucial role in this endeavor, providing valuable insights into the condition of machinery and the quality...
Oil Analysis Program Maturity: Are You Ready for the Next Level?
Oil analysis, often called Oil Condition Monitoring (OCM), has been integral to industrial maintenance programs for more than half a century. Throughout its history, it has contributed to maintenance and improving the profitability of the industries that effectively...
Here’s A More Comprehensive Approach to Revealing Oxidation Root Causes
Typically, when an oil undergoes degradation, the first culprit to be blamed is oxidation. We often hear that the oil has oxidized, producing varnish, leading to its degradation. While this simple statement may seem plausible, it is not the only way oil can degrade....
How Wind Turbine Gear Oils Have Evolved to Combat Micropitting Problems
Wind energy has become an increasingly important component of our energy grid as the world moves toward more sustainable power generation sources. Although harnessing wind power to do helpful work extends back to ancient times (think sail ships and windmills), stable...
The Lubricants Myth: Why You’re Not Saving Money by Buying the Cheap Stuff
I chose this topic this issue because the biggest bang for any organization is to get their lubricants right. With anywhere from 50% - 70% of your current downtime being caused by improper lubrication, there is only one way to spend your limited maintenance and...
Online Sensors for Oil Analysis: Benefits, Concerns and Practical Uses
Online oil analysis sensors can prove to be a contentious topic. Social media comments vary from fitting them everywhere to claiming that they will never be a substitute for laboratory oil analysis. Of course, there is a middle ground where online sensors should be...
How to Get Started with Onsite Oil Analysis: A Step-by-Step Guide
Implementing reliability solutions involves solving problems and deciding how to effectively use oil sample test data as a fundamental building block to drive program success. Many decisions confront the end user when they perform their own oil testing and analysis....













