#Oil in water vs water in oil emulsion free

When water is dissolved in another medium like oil, a water molecule still absorbs infrared light although the peak might be shifted slightly due to the different environment around that water molecule. Pure water absorbs infrared light and can be detected by a peak in the infrared spectrum at around 3400 cm-1. In infrared absorption spectroscopy, the incident light beam is passed through a sample and the transmitted light is collected by the detector and typically reported as a spectrum of the transmitted or absorbed light as a function of the wavelength, , of the incident beam. The sample to be studied is placed between the radiative source and the detector. A spectrometer consists of a radiative source, a detector, and a computer or other converter of the detector signal to useful information. In a very general sense, spectroscopy is the study between the interaction of radiated energy and matter. It is a widely used and accepted chemical-free measurement.

#Oil in water vs water in oil emulsion free

Dissolved water is typically not too much of a concern for industrial applications but free water or emulsified water must be stringently controlled.Ī most promising technique for measuring water contamination is infrared spectroscopy. Above saturation, the water will form discrete water droplets and eventually separate from the oil if left to sit (Figure 1). The additive formulations in these types of oils are designed to separate water efficiently above saturation limits of 50-250 ppm water.

Water can coexist as three phases in an oil sample: dissolved, emulsion mix, and free globules which makes it challenging to obtain a representative sample. Water contamination in industrial oils with strong water separation properties has been historically difficult to measure with any technique. Water testing is always a part of any lubricant condition monitoring program. The presence of water can alter the viscosity of a lubricant as well as cause chemical changes resulting in additive depletion and the formation of acids, sludge, and varnish. Water contamination in industrial oils can cause severe issues with machinery components. In this guide we explore the challenges posed by water in lubrication oils and discuss the methods available to reliability professionals for measuring water in oil. Water can exist in several states in lubrication oils and can do quite a bit of damage to valuable assets if left unchecked. We have all heard the saying, “Oil and water don’t mix.” Unfortunately that doesn’t necessarily apply to lubrication oils.