Applying Anisotropy to Lubricant Oil Fluorescence to Evaluate Its Physical and Chemical Properties

Abstract

The development and improvement of fluorescent methods for controlling the working properties of a lubricant in tribosystems is an urgent matter. A method for measuring the decay kinetics of the lubricant fluorescence anisotropy of lubricating oil on a FL900 CTD high-speed fluorometer (Edinburgh Analytical Instruments) in the single-photon counting mode is described in this work. Measurements of the attenuation time of fluorescence anisotropy of new and mineral-oil working in hydraulic systems were made. A correlation was established between the decay time of the fluorescence anisotropy of oils and the product of the dynamic viscosity of the oil and the volume of the fluorescent complex, which can be used in laboratory analysis of the performance of oils, and also in creating methods and devices for on-line diagnostics of friction units.