Thermal Analysis UserCom 25

Abstract

For quality and environmental reasons, lubricants for engines and other applications must only exhibit a low evaporation rate. The loss of volatile components from an oil increases its viscosity and leads to increased oil consumption, coking and wear. The Noack method is a widely used standard test method for measuring the evaporation loss from lubricating oils. According to the ILSAC GF-3 and API-SL specifications the evaporation loss must not be greater than 15%.

The ASTM standard test method D6375 for the determination of the evaporation loss of lubricating oils by the Noack method [1] uses thermogravimetric analysis, TGA. This method yields the same results as other standard test methods (e.g. ASTM D5800 [2], DIN 51581-1 [3], JPI-5S-41-93 [4]). This article describes how the Noack evaporation loss is determined in comparison to a reference oil sample using TGA.

Introduction

The increase in the usable lifetime of lubricants coupled with faster oil circulation rates, longer oil change intervals and lower lubricant consumption means that lubricants are subjected to greater stress. Higher temperatures coupled with smaller oil volumes and higher performance lead to a constant increase in the demands placed on the performance and quality of the lubricants. To ensure that the lubricants are properly used, they must be properly specified and classified.

The specifications describe the physical properties of engine oils such as the viscosity, evaporation loss and shear stability. Performance behavior is also tested in engine tests. This includes wear protection and cleanliness as well as the influence on fuel consumption and the changes in the engine oil during operation due to viscosity changes (thickening). The classification is provided by organizations such as ILSAC, API or SAE (see the table of acronyms).

One of the commonly used specifications is the evaporation loss. The low molecular mass constituents of an engine oil, which consists of fractions of different hydrocarbons with different chain lengths and molecular masses, can evaporate under increased thermal stress. This usually leads to an increase in the viscosity of the lubricant. At the same time, the solubility of the additives in the base oil is affected.

The evaporation is important for all lubricant groups (e.g. also for synthetic oils) if they are used at higher temperatures. For example with engine oils, evaporation losses can occur through high temperatures at the piston rings and elsewhere. These losses lead to undesirable oil thickening and increased oil consumption.

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Acronyms

API: American Petroleum Institute
ASTM: ASTM International, originally known as the American Society for Testing and Materials
DIN: Deutsches Institut für Normung (German Institute for Standardization)
ILSAC: International Lubricant Standardization and Approval Committee
JPI: Petroleum Association of Japan
SAE: SAE International, Society of Automotive Engineers

Literature

[1] ASTM D6375 Standard Test Method for Evaporation Loss of Lubricating Oils by Thermogravimetric Analyzer (TGA) Noack Method.
[2] ASTM D-5800 Test Method for Evaporation Loss of Lubricating Oils by the Noack Method.
[3] DIN 51581-1, 2003-02 Determination of the evaporative loss of petroleum products by the Noack method – Part 1 (original in German).
[4] JPI-5S-41-93 Determination of Evaporation Loss of Engine Oils (Noack Method).

TGA-F TIR wa s used to characterize and distinguish between different polymorphs. If two polymorphic forms of a solid are present, whereby one form melts and the other sublimes or vaporizes at about the same temperature, then evolved gas analysis can be used to obtain quantitative (mass loss) and qualitative (spectral) data to analyze such solids. The two pharmaceutically important compounds shown in Figure 1, the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) venlafaxine hydrochloride (Structure 1) and the well-known host material 1,1-bis(4- hydroxyphenyl)cyclohexane (Structure 2), were analyzed by DSC, TGA, hot-stage microscopy (HSM) and TGA-FTIR to study the phase transitions that occur on heating.
A substance is said to exhibit polymorphism if it can exist in two or more crystal lattice forms. These are called polymorphs and have different physical properties [1].

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Literature

[1] W. C. McCrone, in Physics and Chemistry of the Organic Solid State, Vol. 2, D. Fox, M. M. Labes and A. Weissberger (Eds.), Wiley Interscience: New York, 1965, pp. 725–767.

This article discusses the conditions required for analyzing melting processes using TOPEM^®. If these conditions are fulfilled, the reversing heat flow measures processes that occur under equilibrium conditions and the non-reversing heat flow processes that involve supercooling or superheating. This separation allows a classification of melting processes and the differention of crystal structures of different stability.

Introduction

The measurement and interpretation of melting processes using temperature modulated DSC (TMDSC) is one of the more demanding tasks in thermal analysis.
This is possibly the reason why a number of ideas and proposals can be found in the scientific literature that do not stand up to a critical analysis. Despite this, TMDSC can provide interesting and important information about melting behavior that would otherwise be difficult to obtain.

Starting out from the basic principles of melting behavior discussed in reference [1], we want to show with the aid of suit- able examples how melting behavior can be investigated using TOPEM^®.

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Literature

[1] J. Schawe, UserCom 24, 11.

Introduction

A “good” perfume is of course expected to provide a pleasant and distinctive odor. At the same time, the fragrances should remain perceptible for as long as possible at a constant level of intensity. For this reason, the fragrances in perfumes are now being encapsulated in so-called delivery systems. The release of fragrances then occurs under control, allowing the perception of the perfume to be optimized with respect to intensity and lasting effect.

The encapsulation of fragrances in suitable delivery systems is therefore a topic of great importance for producers of perfumes.

To identify the most suitable delivery system from the very large number of possible carriers available requires a rapid analytical screening technique that can describe the stability and release performance of a fragrance from the delivery system. Thermogravimetry (TGA) is an excellent technique for this purpose.

In this article, the release of Romascone^® from three different delivery systems has been investigated using thermogravimetry. Romascone^® is a fragrance that finds application in women’s perfumes. The delivery systems utilized three different types of polymeric nanoparticles based on crosslinked vinyl acetate.

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