ASTM D7415-18

5.1 An increase in sulfate material can be an indicator of oil degradation caused by oxidation of sulfur in the oil and sulfur in fuel. It can also indicate the breakdown or oxidation of some key additives in the oil such as antiwear and extreme pressure additives as well as blow-by concerns. As oxidized sulfur from blow-by enters the lubricant, it will consume the overbase additive to generate sulfate by-products. Monitoring of sulfate by-products is therefore an important parameter in determining overall machinery health and in determining additive depletion and should be considered in conjunction with data from other tests such as atomic emission (AE) and atomic absorption (AA) spectroscopy for wear metal analysis (Test Method D5185), physical property tests (Test Methods D445, D2896, and D6304), base number tests (Test Methods D974 and D4739), and other FT-IR oil analysis methods for nitration (Practice E2412), oxidation (Test Method D7414), additive depletion (Test Method D7412), breakdown products and external contaminants (Practice E2412), which also assess elements of the oil’s condition, see Refs (1-6)

1.1 This test method covers monitoring sulfate by-products in in-service petroleum and hydrocarbon based diesel crankcase engine and motor oils that have a sulfur content of greater than 500 ppm. This test method should not be employed when low-sulfur fuels are used for combustion.

1.2 This test method uses Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectrometry for monitoring build-up of sulfate by-products in in-service petroleum and hydrocarbon based lubricants as a result of normal machinery operation. Sulfate by-products can result from the introduction of sulfur from combustion or from the oxidation of sulfur-containing base oil additives. This test method is designed as a fast, simple spectroscopic check for monitoring of sulfate by-products in in-service petroleum and hydrocarbon based lubricants with the objective of helping diagnose the operational condition of the machine based on measuring the level of sulfate by-products in the oil.

1.3 Acquisition of FT-IR spectral data for measuring sulfate by-products in in-service oil and lubricant samples is described in Practice D7418. In this test method, measurement and data interpretation parameters for sulfate by-products using both direct trend analysis and differential (spectral subtraction) trend analysis are presented.

1.4 This test method is based on trending of spectral changes associated with sulfate by-products of in-service petroleum and hydrocarbon based lubricants. Warnings or alarm limits can be set on the basis of a fixed minimum value for a single measurement or, alternatively, can be based on a rate of change of the response measured, see Ref (1).2

1.5 This test method is for petroleum and hydrocarbon based lubricants and is not applicable for ester based oils, including polyol esters or phosphate esters.

1.6 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.

1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

1.8 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.