On-line monitor for metallic wear products. Phase 1. Final report

Research was conducted with the goal of demonstrating the feasibility of designing a novel nondestructive, radiometric instrument to accurately quantify the levels of iron, titanium, and other metals in circulating lubricating media at the tens of parts-per-million (ppm) concentration level. The laboratory apparatus for conducting the research was straightforward and consisted of a vertical cylindrical tube with x-ray transparent ends, a radioactive source at one end of the tube, a detector and associated electronics at the other end, and a multichannel analyzer. The tube was repetitively filled to various levels by lubricating media containing various minute amounts of iron on titanium. The data were acquired and analyzed for the direct purpose of determining the ultimate sensitivity. Researchers found that the instrument could detect 10 ppm of iron and 15 ppm of titanium concentration levels in the lubricating medium once the experimental setup was optimized