Estimation and Correlation Developed for Viscosity of Lubricating Oil Using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy

Proper lubrication in the machine is very important. Without proper lubrication in the machine reduces the performance and life of machine. The working of machine in good condition depend on the quality of lubricants and condition of machine. The lubricating properties of lubricants decide the time interval of lubrication. Hence rather than the conventional way of changing the lubricant at the fixed interval, it is recommended that the oil be changed based on their lubricating properties. Viscosity is a very important properties which affect the useful life of the oil. Viscosity decides the load bearing capacity of the oil film. With time the viscosity of the oil may both increases as well decreases depending upon the conditions. Tom (2007) described how FTIR can be used for oil analysis and suggested the selection of correct parameters for specific applications. The present paper proposes to use Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy to find the viscosity of the oil. In this present paper, the trends in viscosity with the transmittance of selected peak will be found out and the equations of the trend line will give the viscosity at any particular value of transmittance of FTIR spectra.