What is the oxidation stability of petroleum products and the importance of testing

What is the oxidation stability of petroleum products and the importance of testing

The ability of petroleum products to resist permanent changes in their properties caused by the action of air (or oxygen) is called the oxidation stability of petroleum products. The anti-oxidation stability of lubricating oil is an important characteristic reflecting the tendency of oxidative deterioration or aging of lubricating oil in actual use, storage and transportation.

During storage and use, oil often comes into contact with air and oxidizes. The increase in temperature and the catalysis of metals will deepen the oxidation of oil. As a result of the oxidation of lubricating oil, the color of the oil becomes darker, viscosity increases, acidic substances increase, and precipitation occurs. These will undoubtedly bring a series of adverse effects on the use of lubricating oil, such as corrosion of metals and blockage of oil passages. For internal combustion engine oil, paint film will also be formed on the surface of the piston, which will bond the piston ring and cause the wear of the cylinder or the damage of the piston. Therefore, this project is one of the must-control quality indicators of lubricating oil, and it is more important for long-term circulating use of steam turbine oil, transformer oil, internal combustion engine oil, and air compressor oil that is in contact with a large amount of compressed air. Usually, a certain amount of antioxidants are added to the oil to increase its antioxidant capacity and prolong its service life.