Ferrography

Ferrography is a technique for analyzing particles present in fluids that have been magnetically separated onto a microscope slide for viewing. Microscopic examination of this wear "fingerprint" is then used to diagnose the wear mode inside the machine or engine the sample was taken from by the quantity, size, shape and surface characteristics of wear and contaminant particles in lubricating oils, hydraulic fluids and greases.

Developed in the early 70's with funding from the U.S. Navy, ferrography has been widely applied toward the understanding of the wear process. Ferrography instruments such as the manual Ferrography Lab and the LaserNet Fines particle shape classifier have enabled the broader study and classification of wear particles produced by many different metals and substances, both magnetic and nonmagnetic. Ferrography is sometimes used by itself as a diagnostic tool, but more frequently as an ancillary technique to provide more information on samples that have been flagged as abnormal by routine oil analysis techniques such as spectroscopy.

Applicable Spectro Products:

• LaserNet Fines, Particle Counter and particle Shape Classifier
• Ferrography Laboratory
• Turnkey Laboratory, Spectro Industrial Tribology Laboratory
• Spectro 5200 TrivectorTM Analyzer