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Reflecting the Quality Degradation of Engine Oil by the Thermal Diffusivity: Radiative and Nonradiative Analyses
Vijayakumar Gokul1, Mohanachandran Nair Sindhu Swapna2, Dorota Korte2
1Department of Optoelectronics, University of Kerala, Trivandrum 695581, Kerala, India.
Engine oil ageing causes structural changes, breaking down hydrocarbons. Thermal diffusivity measurement using the mode-mismatched dual-beam thermal lens (MMDBTL) technique effectively monitors engine oil quality.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Spectroscopy
- Tribology
Background:
- Engine oil ageing is critical for engine longevity and performance.
- Understanding oil degradation is essential for effective maintenance and lubricant development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate ageing-induced changes in engine oil.
- To evaluate the mode-mismatched dual-beam thermal lens (MMDBTL) technique for oil quality monitoring.
Main Methods:
- Engine oil samples analyzed after 200 km intervals.
- Utilized Ultraviolet-Visible, Fourier transform infrared, and Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.
- Employed Z-scan technique for nonlinear refractive index and MMDBTL for thermal diffusivity.
Main Results:
- Spectroscopic analyses revealed hydrocarbon chain breaking into smaller compounds (ketones, aldehydes, esters).
- Ageing-induced compositional variations enhanced thermal diffusivity.
- Nonlinear refractive index changes correlated with structural modifications.
Conclusions:
- Thermal diffusivity measurement is a viable method for engine oil quality assessment.
- MMDBTL technique offers insights into radiative and nonradiative deexcitation processes.
- The study highlights the link between oil degradation and thermal properties.
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