PRODUCT SUPPORT Doc.

No: 001/I/EXTSOS/09
PT TRAKINDO UTAMA
Department : Oil Laboratory
SOS MEMO
Area : HEAD OFFICE
Subject Additional Tests of Ferrous Debris (PQ) and Wear Issued Date 19 January, 2009
Element (Sn, Ni, Ca, K, B, P) in Oil Analysis
Owner SOS Laboratory To All Customers

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Weeaarr EElleem
meenntt ((SSnn,, NNii,, CCaa,, KK,, BB,, PP))

Background
As part of condition monitoring tools, oil analysis results will provide some valuable information
relating to oil and machine conditions. The information that can be accessed includes oil
contamination, oil chemistry, and component wear. The additional tests of Ferrous Debris (PQ) and
wear element (Sn, Ni, Ca, K, B and P) in SOS Labs are intended to capture more information in oil
contamination, oil chemistry and component wear.

The Particle Quantifier (PQ) is designed to measure ferrous debris in lubricating oils. The PQ
instrument exposes an oil sample to a magnetic field. If there are magnetic particles in the oil, the PQ
records the change in the magnetic field. The result, of this measurement, is called the PQ index. The
PQ index is proportional to the mass of ferrous particles in the oil.

There are two methods to test PQ. The first is a bottle method. The bottle method measures the PQ of
the sample in the original sample bottle. The second is a pot method. When the pot method is used, 2
ml of the sample is decanted into a standard container (pot).

SOS Labs have added PQ test in all oil samples with using the bottle method. SOS Lab Jakarta
performed the PQ test started from 03 November 2008, while SOS Lab Balikpapan started from 02
December 2008. The PQ test in SOS Labs of Batu Hijau, Kuala Kencana and Samarinda started
successively from 02 January, 09 January and 10 January 2009.

The additional tests of Tin (Sn), Nickel (Ni), Calcium (Ca), Potassium (K), Boron (B) and
Phosphorus (P) will be effectively performed in all of SOS Labs started from 19 January 2009.

Benefit
a. Ferrous Debris (PQ)

- As a supplement to particle count test.

Particle count test can not differentiate the type of particles being tested, it only quantifies particles
in the oil based on selected sizes (usually 5 & 15 micron, or 6 & 14 micron).

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 PRODUCT SUPPORT Doc. No: 001/I/EXTSOS/09
PT TRAKINDO UTAMA
Department : Oil Laboratory
SOS MEMO
Area : HEAD OFFICE
Subject Additional Tests of Ferrous Debris (PQ) and Wear Issued Date 19 January, 2009
Element (Sn, Ni, Ca, K, B, P) in Oil Analysis
Owner SOS Laboratory To All Customers

In oil analysis, high particle count result could be from various sources. They are metallic particles
(including ferrous and non-ferrous), non-metallic particles, bubbles, etc. With knowing ferrous
debris (PQ) content in the oil, the source of high particle count can be determined more accurately.

- As a supplement to wear element test.

Visible particles (especially iron) can not be detected by wear element test (ICP instrument). The
instrument only measure particles below 10 micron. But, the PQ will measure all sizes of ferrous
particles in the oil.

b. Wear Element Test of Sn, Ni, Ca, K, B and P

Additional test of Tin (Sn) and Nickel (Ni) will provide information about component wear. Tin
usually comes from bronze alloy, bearing overlay, or babbit metal along with Copper and Lead.
Nickel generally relates to stainless steel alloy, and plating.

Potassium (K) will serve information about contamination from coolant (usually found in Extended
Life Coolant products). And, Potassium can also be from fly ash contaminant.

Generally, Calcium (Ca), Boron (B) and Phosphorus (P) are additive in the oils. Calcium acts as
detergent, but it is also possible from contaminant (cement dust, various minerals, and hard water).
As oil additive, Boron becomes Extreme Pressure (EP) additive or detergent. Boron is also found in
the oil as contaminant from coolant inhibitor. Phosphorous is Anti Wear (AW)/ Extreme Pressure
(EP) additive.

Below is a list of 16 (sixteen) elements used in SOS Labs :

No  Element  Origin  Most Common Source 

1  Iron (Fe)  Wear metal  Various iron and steel machine parts 
2  Lead (Pb)  Wear metal  Journal bearings, babbit, bronze alloys 
3  Tin (Sn)  Wear metal  Bronze alloys, journal bearing flashing 
4  Chromium (Cr)  Wear metal  Ring plating, chrome plating, stainless steel 
5  Nickel (Ni)  Wear metal  Stainless steel alloy, plating 
6  Aluminum (Al)  Wear metal, contaminant  Bearings, dirt, various minerals 
7  Zinc (Zn)  Wear metal, additive  Brass alloys, AW additives, galvanizing 
Cooler core, brass/bronze alloys, babbitt bushings, 
8  Copper (Cu)  Wear metal, additive  slinger rings, antiseize additive 
Dirt, antifoam additive, silicone sealants, coolant 
9  Silicon (Si)  Contaminant, additive  additive 

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 PRODUCT SUPPORT Doc. No: 001/I/EXTSOS/09
PT TRAKINDO UTAMA
Department : Oil Laboratory
SOS MEMO
Area : HEAD OFFICE
Subject Additional Tests of Ferrous Debris (PQ) and Wear Issued Date 19 January, 2009
Element (Sn, Ni, Ca, K, B, P) in Oil Analysis
Owner SOS Laboratory To All Customers

Coolant additive, sea water, process chemicals 
10  Sodium (Na)  Contaminant   (caustic) 
11  Potassium (K)  Contaminant   Coolant additive, fly ash 
12  Phosphorus (P)  Additive  AW/EP additive 
13  Molybdenum (Mo)  Additive  EP additive 
Detergent additive, cement dust, various minerals, 
14  Calcium (Ca)  Additive, contaminant  hard water 
15  Magnesium (Mg)  Additive, contaminant  Detergent additive, sea water 
16  Boron (B)  Additive, contaminant  EP additive, detergent, coolant inhibitor 

Temporary Impact
Previous values of wear elements Sn, Ni, Ca, K, B and P in Oil Commander System is not available.
Trend analysis of those elements can not be established for a while until three or four previous
results have been available.

Hopefully, this will improve for all users.

Thank for your attention.

Best regards,

SOS Lab Team

Product Support Divison
PT Trakindo Utama

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