Technical Field

This disclosure relates generally to a method of detecting the extent of engine oii degradation. More particularly, th is disclosure relates to a method of detecting the extent of engine oii degradation by analyzing fresh and used oil samples to obtain degradation marker or other data, calculating electrochemical property data of the fresh and used oii. determining whether the electrochemical property data correlates with the degradation marker or other data, and using the electrochemical property data to detect the extent of engine oil degradation.

Background

Engine lubricating oil generally comprises a base oil and additives. The base oil can be mineral oil (petroleum based oil), synthetic oil (non-petroleum based oil) or a blend of mineral and synthetic oils. The additives are chemical compounds added to the base oii to enhance the performance of the oil, and may include additives such as antioxidants, detergents, anti- wear agents, anti-rust agents and aoti-foaming agents.

Lubricating oil degrades over time as the oil conies into contact with engine combustion byproducts and engine components. This degradation is the result of a number of physical phenomena. The additives become depleted. Foreign particles and soluble components mix with and contaminate the oil. The base oil molecules may react and combine to form heavier molecules, often causing the oil to darken and/or thicken. The oil molecules may undergo oxidation and nitration and may form acidic chemical compounds.

The ty pe of engine oil, such as mineral, synthet ic or blended (a.k.a. semi-synthetic), can have a significant effect on the formation and subsequent alteration of these chemical compounds. Additional factors such as ambient temperature, humidity, duty cycle and environmental conditions such as the presence of dust and dirt also play a role in the oil degradation process.

Currently, the condition of engine oil, i.e., when the useful life of the engine oil has ended, often is estimated by monitoring the length of t ime the oil as been in use or the distance travelled by the vehicle or machine, and modifying the est imate by taking into consideration the conditions under wh ich the engine has been operating. The estimate is used to predict the interval, in time or mileage, between oil changes. However, the extent of engine o il degradation, i.e., the condition of the oil at arty given time, may not be reliably detected by this method.

It would be useful to be able to detect the extent of oil degradat ion in used oil. The present disclosure addresses this need.

The present disclosure is directed toward a method of detecting the extent of oil degradation. Depending on the need, proactive action may be taken to avoid engine damage or failure.

Summary of the Disclosure

The disclosure relates to a method of detecting the extent of degradation of an oil. In One aspect the disclosure the method comprises the steps of;

analyzing samples of the oil when fresh and when used using an analytical technique to obtain degradation marker or other data;

calculating electrochemical property data of the fresh and used engine oil,

detemiinmg whether the electrochemical property data correlates with the degradation marker or other data; and

if the electrochem ical property data, correlates with the degradation marker or other data, using the elecirocheoiicai property data of a used sam le of the oil i.o detect the extent of degradation of the oil.

T e method may be used for any suitable oil, including mineral oil, synthetic oii and blends (a.k.a. semi-synthetic). The method may be used to detect the extent of degradation in engine lubricating oils, gear oils, transmission oils and hydraulic oils.

The method can be used to maximize oil usage by monitoring used oil qualit over time so that the oil is replaced when necessary and not before. The method can be used to determine whether used oil is still useable, thus saving on oil usage. The method can also identify trends in oii degradation. Brief ?.?c¾f tion Of The Drawings

Figure 1 a measurement over time for five functional groups in a selected used oil sample.

Figure 2 is a printout of gas chromatography and mass

spectrometry (GC and MS) data showing peak intensities of chemical compounds belonging to various f unctional groups found tit used engine oil.

Figure 3 shows electrical properties of aged oil samples over time for a selected oil

Figure 4 shows the levels of oxidation, sulfation and nitration plotted against dielectric constant for a .selected oil

Figure 5 shows dielectric constant over time for selected oils.

Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of a method according to the present disclosure.

D tailed Description

While this disclosure may be embodied in many forms, there is shown in _. the drawings and will herein be described in detail one or more embodiments with the understanding t hat this disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the disclosure and is not intended to limit the disclosure to the illustrated embodiments.

For example, although the following discussion generally refers to a mineral oil, it should be understood that the disclosure also contemplates applications for any suitable oil, including mineral oil, synthetic oil and blends thereof Also, although the following discussion generally refers to engine lubricating oii, it should be understood that the disclosure may relate to other oils containing additives, incUiding but not limited to gear oil, transmission oii and hydraulic oils.

Engine lubricating oil degrades and degrades as the oil comes into contact with combustion byproducts and engine components. The oii molecules react (via oxidation, sulfation, nitration and other chemical processes) and combine to form acidic chemical compounds and to form heavier molecules, causing the oil to darken and thicken.

The degradation can be the resu l t of norma! engine use, degradation from engine failure, water contamination, fuel contamination, contamination due to tmusual combustion by-products, and other types of contamination.

The present disclosure relates to a method of detecting the extent of oil degradation by (!) analyzing fresh and used oil samples to obtain degradation marke data, (2) calculating electrochemical property data (suc as Hansen's polar parameter (δρ) and molar po rizatton (IV)) of the fresh d used oil, (3) determining whether the electrochemical property data correlates with the degradation marker or other data, and if so, then (4) using the electrochemical property data to detect the extent of engine oil degradation.

Step 1 - Analyzing fresh and used oil samples to obtain degradation marker data

The first step in detecting the extent of oil degradation is to analyze fresh and used samples of the oil to obtain degradation marker or other data and other data needed to calculat selected electrical properties of the oil. Degradation markers are those parameters that can be used to detect the extent of engine oil degradation. The degradation marker or other data can be the presence and concentration of certain chemical compounds, physical data and electrical data.

As the en ine lubricating oil degrades, the fresh engine oil molecules react and combine, that is, arc transformed (via oxidation, sulfation, nitration and other chemical processes) into other chemical compounds, including heavy hydrocarbons, alcohols, ethers, esters, ketones and diketones, aldehydes and disulfides and other functional groups that can serve as degradation marker for the purpose of detecting the state of the engine oil degradation. These transformations can be exacerbated in certain ambient condit ions, for example, when engines are Operated in dusty cond itions.

For example, the chemical compounds that are the product of the transformation of the ethers in the fresh oil can include acetonyl-decyl and hexy ^' i-octyl ethers. The chemical compounds that are the product of the transformation of the disulfides in the fresh oil can include dihexyi sulfide and dioci vl disulfide containing species of sulfion acids. The chemical compounds that are the product of the transformation of the alcohols in the fresh oil can include species of alcohols such as octyidodecan-1 -ol, ethyl - i -deeanoi, 2-propyl- 1 Idecanol and 1-pentaicontanol. Th degradation markers may include, but are not limited to, chemical parameters, physical parameters and/or elect .rical parameters.

Chemical parameters may inc lude the presence and concentrat ion of one or more functional groups of chemical compounds -such as drocarb ns, alcohols, ethers, esters, ketones and diketones, aldehydes -and disulfides. The physical parameters may include the viscosity, Total Acid Number (TAN), Total Base Number {TBN), and the levels of nitration, sulfation, ox idation and hydration in the used oil.

The relevant functional groups can be identified by using, for example, mass .spectrometry or infrared spectroscopy to determine which compounds in a selected oil sample change over time.

Fi ure 1 i s a graph of the concentration of five functional groups in a selected oil sample taken over time. In this particular sample, (he concentration of hydrocarbons changes only slightly. The concentration of alcohols decreased. The concentrations of ether and disulfides (dthexyi sulfide and dioctyl sulfide) were observed to increase over time. The total concentration of esters, ketones, aldehydes and diketones changed only slightly if at ail. This data indicates thai lor this particular oil sample at least three functional groups (alcohols, ethers and disulfides) can be used as degradation markers to determine the extent of engine oi l degradation.

Figure 2 is a chromatographic printout of gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC and MS) data showing "peak intensities" of chemical compounds belonging t various functional groups found in used engine oil In the present method on ly some of these compounds may be selected as engine oil degradation markers.

In summary, the existence and concentration of various

"traustbrmed" functional groups can be used as markers t indicate the extent of engine oii degradation. The actual functional groups {markers) can change depending on th type of oil and the environment in which it is used.

Other types of degradation marker may be used , includ ing physical parameters such as viscosity, TAN, TBN and the levels of nitration, sulfation, oxidation and hydration in the used oil.

Step 2 - Calculating electrochemical property data {such as polarity ίδρ and molar polarization (PmV) of fresh and used oil Tliis step involves calculating electrochemical property data (such as Hansen 'is polar parameter (δρ) and molar polarization (Pt»)) of fresh and used oil based on the analytical data collected during Step 1 . For example, Hansen's polar parameter(6p} may be calculated using the following group additivit formula:

where;

Spj - Hansen's polar parameter of polar species i and 0i = relat ive volume of species i

The Hansen's polar parameter values (δ _ρ ) for various organic compounds that may form during oil degradation is given ow:

DECANEMOfC ACID,

DIDECYL I S 1 I K 0 .5065

HEXANE,! - (HEXYLOX Y>-4-METH Y L 3 .81.31

D1HEXYL SULFIDE

2 .962

Alternatively, molar polarization (P _m ) may be calculated using the following formula:

Pm - (MW/ p) ((ετ !)/(¾ ^· f-2)) - (Ν _Λ ,¾ο) (α+<μ ² /3Ι¾ϊ)

Where:

P _m - rno!ar polarization / eieclricai dipole moment density, e /mol.

average molecular weight of the oil, g/moi d ielectric constant of the oil

P density of the oil, g cc

ε ₀ free space ^' permittivity, 8.S5418 x 10 ^{" !2} Ο ^! /ι ^η - Ν _Λ Avogadro's number, 6.023 x 1 ' mol

« polarizability (c ^' Vj)

μ dipole moment due to polar species in the oi! Debve

= Bolizmann's constant, 1. 1 1 x 10 ^~2i ,1/K

T ^~ Temperature,

Step 3 - .Determining whether the electrochemical ^' property data correlates with the degradation marker or other data

Fsgsire 3 shows values for Hansen 's polar parameter (Sp) and molar polartzation (P _m ) of an oil sample over time and demonstrates that certain electrical propert ies (such as polarity (ø») correlate well with degradation marker or other data (such as TAN), ft is theorized thai an increase in TAN correlates to an increase in polarity due to the ionization of certain chemical species such as acids, sulfides and diketones present in aged oil. Thus, polarity can be used to detect the extent of oil degradation.

Figure 4 shows the levels of oxidatioa. sulfation and nitration plotted against dielectric constant (¾■). From this data it can be seen that the dlelecf ie constant of the oil increases with degradation and correlat es well with increases in levels of oxidation, sulfation and nitration. Tims, dielectric constant cast be used to detect the extent of oil degradation,

The same electrochemical property parameter may not be suitabie to use for the detection of engine oil degradation in ail oils. Figare 5 shows dielectric constant over time for three selected oil samples, each data set represented by a geometric symbol; triangles, squares and diamonds, it can readily be seen that dielectric constant changes over time for the data set represented by diamonds but not for the other two data sets. Thus dielectric constant m ight be suitabie to use to detect the extent of engine oii degradation for the oil represented by the set of diamonds but not for the other two oils. Step 4 - Using the electrochemical property data to detect the extent of engine oil degradation.

Once it has been established ^' that certain electrochemical property data correlates with degradation marker or other data, the electrochemical property data can then be Used to detect the extent of oil degradation. For example, a sample of a used oil can be taken in the field and analyzed for certain parameters, then the parameters used to calculate one or more electrical properties. The electrical properties then can be used to detect- the extent of oil degradation.

Summary of Method

Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of a method of detecting the extent of oil degradation accordin to the present disclosure. The method may comprise the following steps:

Step 100; Analyzing samples of the engine oil when fresh and when used using an analytical technique to obtain degradation marker or other data. The analytical technique may be selected from the group consisting of; (1 ) GC/MS (gas chromatography and/or mass spectrometry), wherein the degradation marker data comprises oil composition data, (2) TGA/DSC

(thermogravimetrie analysis/ differential scanning calorimetry), wherein the degradation marker data comprises thermal stability data, (3) FT-IR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy), wherein the degradation marker data comprises structural analysis data, (4) lubricant analysis, wherein the

degradation marker data comprises TB.N, nitration, sulfation, oxidation, moisture asid cvf glycol ogen data, (5) potentiontetric titration, wherein the degradation marker data comprises TAN data, (6) wear metal, analysis, wherein the degradation marker data comprises additive depletion data, and (7) viscosity and density analyzers, wherein the degradation marker data comprises viscosity, density and/or viscosity index.

Step 200; Calculating electrodiemical property data (for example, polarity or molar polarization) of the resh arid used engine oil.

Step 300: Determining whether the electrochemical property data correlates with the degradation marker or other data (and thus the electrochemical property can be used as a new type of degradation marker).

Step 400: If the electrochemical property data correlates with the degradation marker data, using the electrochemicai property of a used oil sample of engine oil to detect the extent of degradation of the engine oil. This step may involve taking an oil sample from a machine in the field,, analyzing the oil sample for various properties, including those needed to calculate the electrochemical property of interest, calculating the electrochemical property of interest, and using the electrochemical property to decide whether to change the oil in the machine.

Other Findings and Conclusions

The increase in kinematic viscosity in aged oil samples correlates with an increase in the apparent activation energy of degradation. As the oil degrades, longer chain hydrocarbons are formed which increases kinematic viscosity;

With degradation, alcohol concentration decreases, ether and sulfide concefttratiotis- increase, ami a range of (di)esters, carboxyiic acids and di-carhertyl compounds was observed.

The increase in total acid number (TAN) correlates with an increase in the ionizability of species like acids, sulfides and diketones present in the aged oil.

The overall trend of (<v,) of the oil increased with degradation time. (o. ) was also utilized to find dipole moment and potarizabiiity volume of the oil.

Molar polarization (induced + electric charge) of the oil was found to increase from 120 to 1 3 cc/mol. This is a clear indication that die!ectrk constant can be used as the sensing variable to detect polarization of engine oils with degradation,

Industrial Applicability

The method of the present -disclosure may be used whene ve r a«d wherever oil degradation is a problem. The method ca apply to the

construction industry, mining industry, aerospace industry, chemical industry, locomotive industry or any industry where oil degradation occurs. For example, iri the construction industry oii degradation occurs in heavy duty off road machines, and the problem is exacerbated in dry dusty environments,

The method can be used to maximize engine oil usage by monitoring used oii quality over time s that engine oil is re laced when necessary and not before. The method can be used to determine whether used oii is still useable, thus saving on oil usage. The method can also identify trends in oil degradation,

It is Understood that the embodiments of the disclosure described above are only particula ^' -examples which serve to illustrate the principle of the disclosure. Modifications and alternative embodiments of the disclosure are contemplated which do not depart from the scope of the disclosure as defined by she foregoin teach ings and appended claims. It is intended that the claim cover all such modifications' and alternative embodiments that fall within their scope.