Coke Formation from Aircraft Engine Oils: Part II—Effects of Oil Formulation and Surface Composition

Abstract

This is the second of two papers giving the results of a study undertaken to determine how aircraft engine oil degrades to form coke on oil-wetted surfaces. In part 2 the authors address the impacts of additives (which is related to oil types) and surface materials upon the oil coking process.

In Part 1 of this study, the authors showed that simple laboratory tests involving thin films of oil heated for specified timesltemperatures in open glass vials produced polymer and coke similar to the deposits seen on failed face seals taken from the operating aircraft engines and polymers isolated from used engine oils. Antioxidants inhibit and delay the coke producing reactions. After the antioxidant package is depleted to approximately 10 percent of the original level, the ester basestock undergoes accelerated oxidation to form oil-soluble polymers. As the oil spends additional time at elevated temperature, these polymers increase in molecular weight and undergo minor compositional changes becoming insoluble in the oil, producing deposits. If the time that a thin oil layer spends on a hot surface at elevated temperature can be limited so that the antioxidant does not deplete completely, coking can be prevented. This shifts the focus from coke minimization to coke prevention.

The authors results in Part 2 indicate that oil choice—which is largely a choice of antioxidant package—makes a large difference in how long oil can remain on a hot surface without forming polymer/coke deposits. For the oils studied in Part 2, the capabilities of the oils' antioxidant packages to inhibit coke formation varied 15 fold.

Surface material choice has minimal effect upon the rate of antioxidant depletion. However, once the antioxidant in the oil in a thin layer has become ineffective in inhibiting accelerated oxidation (approximately 10 percent of original concentration), the material the oil resides upon strongly effects the rate of the polymer/coke formation processes. Stainless steel speeds the process compared to a glass substrate.

Presented at the 52th Annual Meeting Kansas City, Missouri May 18–22, 1997

KEY WORDS:

• Lubricant Degradation/Stability
• Gas Turbine Oils

Notes

Presented at the 52th Annual Meeting Kansas City, Missouri May 18–22, 1997