Water in hydraulic oil can cause surface corrosion and metal fatigue, change physical characteristics, and impair the oil’s ability to transfer power. Hydraulic oils can also perform other tasks and have different resistance properties. Water can exist in three states, with dissolved water having minimal effects and high levels causing component failure. Free water causes surface corrosion, while emulsion changes the oil’s physical characteristics.
There are a number of potentially harmful effects commonly associated with any amount of water in hydraulic oil, including surface corrosion and accelerated fatigue of metal components. Since water in hydraulic oil can exist in three distinct states, the specific effects can depend on factors such as water concentration, oil type and working temperature. Completely dissolved water in hydraulic oil is not typically associated with surface corrosion, but high levels of dissolved water can cause accelerated metal fatigue. The presence of water in hydraulic oil can also change the physical characteristics of the oil, resulting in a reduction in viscosity, or even cause jamming of components if ice crystals form in particularly cold working conditions.
Hydraulic oils are a class of substances that are used to transfer power in various types of hydraulic machines. In addition to serving as a power transfer medium, hydraulic oil can perform a number of other tasks as well. These oils are often used to lubricate, transfer heat and act as a sealing medium. Some hydraulic oils are also specifically designed to be resistant to fire or radiation. The ability of hydraulic oil to perform these tasks is typically impaired by the presence of water, although the specific effects of water in hydraulic oil depend on a number of factors.
When water contaminates hydraulic oil, there are three distinct states in which it can exist. Relatively small levels of water can be completely dissolved in large quantities of hydraulic oil, in which case the effects are usually minimal. Surface corrosion does not typically occur from small amounts of dissolved water, although metal components within the system can suffer from accelerated fatigue. Studies have shown that a reduction in dissolved water levels from 400 parts per million (PPM) to 25 PPM can allow some components to last approximately five times longer.
Each type of hydraulic oil can contain a limited amount of dissolved water. Once the saturation point is reached, the results are free water or emulsion. Large amounts of free water in hydraulic oil typically cause a lot of surface corrosion, and very high levels often cause component failure. When the water in hydraulic oil is mixed into an emulsion, the result is typically a distinct change in the physical characteristics of the oil. This can result in hydraulic oil having a different viscosity or compressibility, which can negatively affect the oil’s ability to transfer power.
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