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There has been a recent upsurge in interest from the media concerning the quality of the environment within aircraft cabins and cockpits especially in the commercial world. This has included (although by no means been limited to) the air quality, with particular reference to the alleged effects of contamination from the aircraft turbine lubricant. Possible exposure to 'organophosphates' (OPs) from the oil has raised special concerns from cabin crew. Such is the concern that government organisations around the world, including Australia, USA and UK, have set up committees to investigate the cabin air quality issue. Concern was also voiced in the aviation lubricants world at the way in which OP additives in turbine lubricants were being blamed in some reports for the symptoms being experienced by air crew and passengers. SAE Committee E-34 therefore decided that it should gather as much available information on the subject as possible.

This test method describes the procedure for the determination of the composition of the base stock of polyol ester lubricants by gas chromatography mass spectroscopy (GC-MS).

Employing ‘ball-on-cylinder’ philosophy, a non-rotating steel ball is held in a vertically mounted chuck and using an applied load is forced against an axially mounted steel cylinder. The test cylinder is rotated at a fixed speed while being partially immersed in a lubricant reservoir. This maintains the cylinder in a wet condition and continuously transports a lubricating film of test fluid to the ball and cylinder interface. The diameter of the wear scar generated on the test ball is used as a measure of the fluid’s lubricating properties. The apparatus can be used, by adjusting the operating conditions, to reproduce two different wear mechanisms; mild and severe wear, the ALTE therefore has the ability to assess a lubricant’s performance in that regard.

This method is used for determining the compatibility of a candidate lubricant with specific reference lubricants. The reference lubricants to be used will typically be mandated by the owner of the product specification against which the candidate lubricant is being compared. This method is split into two procedures (Procedure A and Procedure B) with a summary of each procedure contained in Section 4.

This method is designed to evaluate the coking propensity of synthetic ester-based aviation lubricants under single phase flow conditions found in certain parts of gas turbine engines, for instance in bearing feed tubes. This method is applicable to lubricants with a coking propensity, as determined by this method, falling in the range 0.01 to 3.00 mg.

This method is designed to evaluate the coking propensity of synthetic ester-based aviation lubricants under single phase flow conditions found in certain parts of gas turbine engines, for instance in bearing feed tubes. This method is applicable to lubricants with a coking propensity, as determined by this method, falling in the range 0.01 to 5.00 mg.

This method is designed to evaluate the coking propensity of synthetic ester-based aviation lubricants under two phase air-oil mist conditions as found in certain parts of a gas turbine engine, for instance, bearing chamber vent lines. Based on the results from round robin data in 2008-2009 from four laboratories, this method is currently intended to provide a comparison between lubricants as a research tool; it is not currently a satisfactory pass/fail test. At this juncture a reference oil may improve reproducibility (precision between laboratories); a formal precision statement will be given when there is satisfactory data and an agreed on, suitable reference oil if applicable.

This test method describes a standardized process to evaluate the an aviation lubricant’s resistance to oxidation and corrosion-based degradation and to evaluate the fluid’s tendency to corrode various metals. Fluids are evaluated under a low-moisture atmosphere at a variety of times and temperatures.

This test method describes a standardized process to evaluate an aviation lubricant’s resistance to thermal degradation and to evaluate the fluid’s tendency to corrode a steel specimen. Fluids are evaluated in an environment free of both air and moisture at a specified temperature and for a specified time period.

Over the past several years the FZG A/8.3/90 test method has been used to evaluate current qualified aviation lubricants. The results of the effort have been summarized in this document as a historical reference to document the findings made from the committee.

This AIR describes the current scientific and engineering principles of gas turbine lubricant performance testing per AS5780 and identifies gaps in our understanding of the technology to help the continuous improvement of this specification.

This SAE Aerospace Information Report (AIR) establishes guidance for the specification of formulated lubricant properties which contribute to the lubricating function in bearings, gears, clutches, and seals of aviation propulsion and drive systems.

This method is designed to evaluate the micropitting performance of currently available and future aviation turbine oil formulations. Drawing on previously performed tests documented in AIR6989, the method comprises of three rings rotating against a rotating central roller configuration using the standard, commercially available PCS Instruments Micropitting Rig (MPR). A test profile has been developed between industry and academia that relies on standard, commercially available test specimens.

The intent of this SAE Aerospace Information Report (AIR) is to summarize and review the E34 committee’s efforts to educate the aerospace propulsion lubrication community on the science of micropitting, its consequences, and the various tribology evaluation methods that can be employed under aviation related conditions to differentiate formulation related aggravating factors.

This test method is designed to simulate the synergistic combinations of oil flow, temperature cycling, hot spots, and tribology that would typically be found in a gas turbine engine. The method is intended to quantitatively characterize changes in four basic oil properties that are brought about by exposure to the afore mentioned simulated turbine engine environment: the tendency of aviation lubricants to form coke deposits, viscosity changes, total acid number changes (TAN), and oil consumption.

This method is intended to evaluate the thermal and oxidative stability of synthetic, ester-based aviation lubricants under defined conditions of time and temperature. This method is applicable to lubricants meeting the compositional and performance requirements of AS5780.

This method describes a gravimetric procedure for the determination of solid particle contamination in packaged aircraft turbine lubricants and related fluids. This method is Federal Test Method 791, Method 3010 used in Aerospace Standard 5780.

This specification defines basic physical, chemical, and performance limits for 5 cSt grades of gas turbine engine lubricating oils used in aero and aero-derived marine and industrial applications, along with standard test methods and requirements for laboratories performing them. It also defines the quality control requirements to assure batch conformance and materials traceability, and the procedures to manage and communicate changes in oil formulation and brand. This specification invokes the Performance Review Institute (PRI) product qualification process. Requests for submittal information may be made to the PRI at the address in Appendix D Section D.2, referencing this specification. Products qualified to this specification are listed on a Qualified Products List (QPL) managed by the PRI. Additional tests and evaluations may be required by individual equipment builders before an oil is approved for use in their equipment.

The test method describes the procedure for determination of the total acid number (TAN) of new and degraded polyol ester and diester-based gas turbine lubricants by the potentiometric titration technique. The method was validated to cover an acidity range of 0.05 to 6.0 mg KOH g-1. The method may also be suitable for the determination of acidities outside of this range and for other classes of lubricants.

The test method describes the procedure for the direct determination of water concentration in polyol ester and diester based aerospace lubricants by commercially available automated coulometric Karl Fischer titration instruments. The method was validated to cover the water concentration range of 150 to 3500 µg/g. The method may also be suitable for the determination of water concentrations outside this range and for other classes of fluids; however, the precision statement shall not be applicable for such uses.