Tech Tips - Part 6

With over 75 years in the filtration industry, Baldwin Filters recognises that there is specific terminology we all use to communicate different aspects related back to filters, filter maintenance and performance, filter components etc. In order to help us all understand the different characteristics of filters, regardless of the brand, they have created a series of Tech Tips where they will look at and explain the different terminology we all use.

Abrasives
Those particles, which when caught between moving surfaces, will “abrade” or wear surfaces.

Abrasion
The wearing, grinding, or rubbing away by friction. Abrasion in a filtration system is usually due to the presence of foreign matter such as dirt, grit or metallic particles in the lubricant.

Cavitation
The formation and collapse of vapour bubbles caused by a partial vacuum within a liquid.

Cavitation Corrosion/Erosion
Formation of voids or air bubbles in a liquid when subjected to intense vibrations or sudden pressure drop. The shock waves created by the collapse of these voids or air bubbles can cause severe mechanical damage to the surfaces of metal.

Chemical Corrosion
Sulphur that is generated from the combustion of fuel mixed with water, which becomes acidic and degrades or corrodes the metal engine parts.

Electrolytic Corrosion
Two differing metals in contact with each other in a liquid, such as the cooling system, have an ion “exchange.” One metal “gives off” to the other. The degradation of one metal to the other is measured in an ASTM test known as the Corrosion in Glassware test.

Erosion
The mechanical wearing away of metal by the action of liquid or gas.

Pitting Corrosion
Localized attack in which the depth of penetration is at least the same order as the diameter of the area corroded. A dangerous form of corrosion.