5.1 This guide is intended to provide machinery maintenance and monitoring personnel with a guideline for performing filter debris analysis as a means to determine machine condition. Correlating the filter contaminants to ‘normal’ and ‘abnormal’ lube system operation provides early indication of a contaminant or component wear related lube system problem. Analysis of the contaminant collected within the lube filter element provides a tool to identify the failure mode, its rate of progression, and the source of the contamination.

5.2 FDA differs from traditional oil analysis in that the filter is sampled instead of the fluid. Debris from the filter is removed for analysis. FDA is an effective means of monitoring equipment wear because the wear history is efficiently captured in the filter matrix. Typically, more than 95 % of all released metal particles larger than the filter pore size are captured in the filter (1).⁵ In addition, other types of particulate contamination, including seal wear material and environmental contaminations are captured, which can also provide diagnostic information.

1.1 This guide pertains to removal and analysis techniques to extract debris captured by in-service lubricant and hydraulic filters and to analyze the debris removed.

1.2 This guide suggests techniques to remove, collect and analyze debris from filters in support of machinery health condition monitoring.

1.3 Debris removal techniques range from manual to automated.

1.4 Analysis techniques vary from visual, particle counting, microscopic, x-ray fluorescence (XRF), atomic emission spectroscopy (AES), and scanning electron microscopy energy dispersive x-rays (SEMEDX).

1.5 This guide is suitable for use with the following filter types: screw on, metal mesh, and removable diagnostic layer filters.

1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.