SEDL / STP / STP997-EB / STP26400S

Compositional Analysis of Light-Duty Motor Bearings in Fuel Pumps

Pamphilis, NA
Research chemist, AC Spark Plug, Flint, MI

Pages: 13    Published: Jan 1988

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Abstract

A method of quantitatively determining a number of compounds in light-duty motor bearings has been developed. As a result, large amounts of carbon fibers (about 25% carbon) were found in samples containing polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), inorganic filler, and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) by means of thermal analysis using both thermogravimetry (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).

Two different, but related, methods were used to quantitatively determine the contents of the sample. The first, which was nominally called the “indirect approach,” uses DSC for the determination of the polymeric components and TG for the determination of the residue (inorganic fillers or glass). The amount of carbon is then determined based on the difference. The second method, which was nominally called the “direct approach,” uses DSC for the determination of PTFE and TG for the determination of all other components. The agreement between the two methods is good.