SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 01 December 2022
STP163420210027

Application of ASTM Test Methods Used for Microscopic Particle Inspection and Characterization and Their Practical Digital Documentation

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Microscopic examination of particles from an external source or due to an active wear condition during machine operation are important condition monitoring tests. Particles are deposited on either glass slides or membrane patch media for examination. Differences in particle deposition techniques can lead to differences in the evaluated examination. These externalities may produce different expert opinion and ultimately evaluations and recommendations. A further complication occurs when the practitioners apply different definitions to the same as this alters the understanding and meaning of the condition. ASTM developed guides to standardize the language of wear particles. The choices made to document the particle examinations pose an additional challenge as microscopic examinations are documented using a variety of reports. Basic report elements include particle size, color, and texture information along with a roll-up summation of the overall severity of the oil or machine condition. Some of this information leads itself to trending which affords the opportunity to assign failure modes or causes. Each of the three primary ASTM standards related to microscopic particle analysis (ASTM D7670, D7684, and D7690) provide portions of the information needed to digitally document and characterize the particles for trend analysis. It seems intuitive that particles extracted and then examined from single samples through any microscopic technique would yield similar observations and conclusions. The requirements from all three ASTM documents were consolidated and combined into a single software platform that allows the use of singular particle definitions and characterizations for 14 identified particle types that use eight standard categories. These categories use as few as four or up to eight of the descriptors. This software tool improves trending capability on a particle type and characteristics and allows consolidation of observation from different sample preparations. Examples of the digital documentation and trending tool will be presented.

Author Information

Shamabanse, Kubale
Arizona Public Service Co., Phoenix, AZ, US
Johnson, Bryan
Arizona Public Service Co., Phoenix, AZ, US
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Details
Pages: 333–344
DOI: 10.1520/STP163420210027
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-7715-4
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-7714-7