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Thermogravimetric analysis of carbon black and engine soot - Towards a more robust oil analysis method

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Open access
Authors
Bredin, A.
Larcher, A.
Mullins, Benjamin
Date
2011
Type
Journal Article

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Bredin, Arne and Larcher, Alfons V. and Mullins, Benjamin J. 2011. Thermogravimetric analysis of carbon black and engine soot - Towards a more robust oil analysis method. Tribology International 44 (12): pp. 1642-1650.
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Tribology International
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School
School of Public Health
Remarks

NOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Tribology International. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Tribology International, 44 (12), 2011, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.triboint.2011.06.002

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Abstract

This work examined the thermal behaviour of diesel engine produced soot and commercial carbon black using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). It was found that during TGA analysis of the carbon matrices (at a temperature range commonly used for soot-in-oil content determination), a gradual mass loss occurred. This was attributed to pyrolysis effects and combustion processes occurring due to poor hydrodynamic design of some commercial thermobalances. This process resulted in a significant mass loss of the carbon during TGA. This finding may strongly effect soot-in-oil analysis conducted using current methods. Experiments were conducted using a range of soot-in-oil mixtures according to the widely used thermogravimetric standard method ASTM 5967-08 which showed a significant underestimation of the soot content in the oil as a result of carbon mass loss due to combustion and/or pyrolysis effects. An improved oil analysis method is proposed which provides a significantly increased accuracy of soot determination in lubricant oils.