Year: 2021

Ashing is the process of expelling organic material from a sample before it is analyzed. For ashing to take place, complete combustion of the sample is critical to yield accurate results, and this requires the use of an ashing furnace. However, because there are many different applications of ashing, there is no standard model for ashing furnaces and they often have to be purpose-built. Key Aspects of Ashing Furnace Design Ashing furnaces are used to quantify the change in weight from a sample as one or more components are burned away. When choosing an ashing furnace, it is necessary to…

What is Powder Coating? Powder coating protects materials from atmospheric influence. It provides an even surface and a uniform finish. Thermoset or thermoplastic is used and granulated into a powder form. The powder is then sprayed onto the surface of a metal object using an electric charge and then this surface needs to be cured. Ovens are required for curing a powder coating. Powder coating ovens must be able to sustain temperatures of 450°F and the oven will need to be large enough to fit all the powder-coated objects inside. Powder coating ovens do not require the use of solvents,…

Convection ovens manipulate air flow within a heating chamber to effectively regulate temperature. Sometimes known as forced air ovens, convection ovens used a combination of blowers and fans to circulate air and evenly distribute heat—ensuring that all objects within the chamber are heated uniformly. This is the basic concept of most domestic ovens, but industrial convection ovens are commonplace too. How are Convection Ovens Used in an Industrial Setting? Industrial convection ovens are highly versatile and can be used to heat large quantities of objects extremely quickly. Industrial convection ovens can reach extremely high temperatures and can be used for…

Ashing is the process of removing organic material from a sample before analysis and is widely used in the food and petroleum industries. The processes of ashing can generally be split into two categories: wet ashing and dry ashing. Wet ashing removes organic material from a sample employing a liquid phase reactant such as combinations of acids. Dry ashing is achieved through the controlled combustion of a sample in air. Generally, dry ashing procedures follow the same basic principle: samples should be sufficiently heated in air which causes oxidation and removal of organic material from the sample. The remaining material…

ASTM D874 is the main standard used to test sulphated ash from lubricating oils. It is routinely deployed for quality assurance and control (QA/QC) purposes where the composition of unused oils or additive concentrates can provide valuable insights for process engineers. The scope of ASTM D874 subsequently has wide ranging cross-market applicability. Here we will offer a full breakdown of ASTM D874, from its significance to some specific considerations to bear in mind. ASTM D874 Scope ASTM D874 covers the standard procedure for determining the mass percentage of sulphated ash from lubricants containing metallic additives—usually barium, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium,…