TECHNICAL BULLETIN
Grease Sampling Why are sample devices important for
proper grease sampling?
Devices
Taking samples for in-service greased components is really the
wild west. Unlike oil, contamination does not have the ability
to be dispersed throughout the grease, so most of the wear,
contamination and degradation stays relatively close to the
active surface. This means the sampling method can greatly
affect the testing results even if the samples were taken
from the same unit. ASTM D7718 – 11/(2019) was issued to
standardize the way greased components are sampled.
How to Take a Sample
Grease contamination is concentrated near the active zone and not dispersed throughout the lubricant. The need to
correctly sample the grease is higher due to the fact that taking too large of a sample dilutes the results and affects
the information gained from testing. Make sure to fill the grease-sampling device with enough sample for all testing
to be performed
Where to Take a Sample
The recommended place to take any sample varies
from unit to unit, but the target is called the “active
zone” where the grease is close to the surface
needing lubrication. For example, this would be
near the race and bearing channels for bearings
and a gearbox/MOV’s active zone would be near
the gear test mesh point.
These places would provide a relatively
homogenized sample. In some cases, it may be
necessary to take more than one sample from
a piece of equipment to obtain more trendable
results. Examples of this could be a large bearing
that does not fully rotate (such as a slew bearing),
greased joints in robotics, or one in which sufficient
mixing does not otherwise occur.
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TECHNICAL BULLETIN
How to Take a Sample (cont.)
What to Consider When Sampling
Operator Training Homogeneity of Samples
To ensure that the sample integrity is upheld, the It is important to keep in mind that the quality and
operator shall be trained on how to properly take trendability of the sample relies a great deal on the
the sample. This includes in-depth knowledge of sampling location’s proximity to the component.
the internal layout of the component, locations This is because lubricating grease does not freely
of desired sampling points, instruction on how flow and distribute wear particles, oxidation, and
to properly use the selected sampling devices, contamination. If the lubricating grease inside of
and how to properly clean the locations prior to a component is not observably homogenous, it
sampling. is up to the operator to determine if it is of value
to obtain one or multiple samples. If multiple are
Equipment Cleanliness needed, the operator should collect the samples
The area around the access port needs to first be separately and ensure that they are identified by
cleansed of dust, dirt, and other contaminants. the sampling location and physical appearance
The sampling devices and containers shall also characteristics that differentiate them.
be clean, dry, and free of any dust, dirt, and other
contaminants that can affect the results of any
subsequent analysis performed on the sample.
Sample Handling
The sample container or the grease-sampling
device should always be capped or sealed to
prevent contamination. The sample container
or grease-sampling device should be placed
in an appropriate crushproof shipping tube.
There should only be one sample per crushproof
container to prevent cross-contamination during
the shipping process.
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