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Effects of Water Contamination |
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Water is one of the most common contaminants in a fluid system and one of the most damaging. When water contaminates a system, it can cause serious problems such as : |
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corrosion by etching metal. |
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Fluid breakdown, reduction of lubricating properties, additive precipitation, and oil oxidation. |
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Reduced dielectric strength. |
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Abrasive wear in hydraulic components. |
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Typical Saturation Points |
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| Fluid Type |
PPM |
% |
| Hydraulic Fluid |
300 |
.03% |
| Lubrication Fluid |
400 |
.04% |
| Transformer fluid |
50 |
.005% |
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Free water occurs when oil becomes saturated and cannot hold any more water. This water is usually seen as cloudy oil or puddles of water at the bottom of an oil reservoir. Water which is absorbed into the oil is called dissolved water. At higher temperatures, oil has the ability to hold more water in the dissolved stage due to the expansion of oil molecules. As the oil cools, this ability reverses and free water will appear where not visible before. In addition to temperature, fluid type also determines the saturation point for your system (see chart above). |
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water - water good in a garden but not in lubricating oil- |
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When we think of water, we usually think of corrosion, but it has many other subtle effects on hydraulic system. It can alter the physical properties of the fluid, change the performance of the filter and accelerate stress and wear fatigue. |
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Leaking seals, water coolers and other mechanical failures allow water to enter the hydraulic system. Heat exchanges may develop leaks through corrosion, cracking or abrasional rubbing. Cooling oils may sweat in
humid weather and the condensed water may drip into the oil reservoir. The least obvious source of water can be through air breather.
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Damaging Effects - |
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water in oil can chemically react to form slude, acids and germs. It can also leak out additives. |
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Bacteria can grow at the oi-water interface resulting in slime which can block orifices and filters. Studies of fatigue life failure have indicated that 100-4-ppm of water in oil can show a reduction in fatigue life by 30-70 %.
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