Analytical Almanac

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The purpose of this Analytical Almanac is to collect knowledge disseminated across the oil / lubricant industry. Focusing on hydrogen and carbon atoms, the principal components of crude oil and natural gas, can combine in virtually countless ways to make a diversity of petroleum products, including gasoline, diesel fuel, heating oil, lubricating oils and greases, solvents, waxes, process oils, electrical insulating oils, heat treating oils, and asphalts and associated ASTM tests. Petroleum hydrocarbons are also the source of the petrochemicals that are widely used in the manufacture of such products as plastics, fertilizers, paints, pesticides, and synthetic rubber.

In view of the indispensable role of petroleum based products in our lives, this Analytical Almanac is offered as a concise source of basic information about these products — their properties, the processes by which they are made, the test methods used to assess product characteristics and assure consistent quality, and health and safety issues. The types of equipment and materials that rely on petroleum products for their operation or manufacture are also discussed.  Associated modules include:   Ferrography Almanac - Oil Analysis Almanac - Bearings - Gears - Pumps - Compressors and Hydraulic systems.  Further modules include LTC³ Technology Almanac - Ferro-Phrases -  Laboratory Testing Procedures - Employee Manual.

In many of the definitions, clicking on an underlined word or phrase will take you directly to its definition under a separate heading. A boldfaced word indicates either a term of key importance in the definition or a commonly used alternative to the word or phrase being described.

In numerous definitions, reference is made to ASTM test methods. These are carefully controlled tests developed by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), a scientific and technical organization founded in 1898 to establish standards for various petroleum and non-petroleum products, systems, and services.