Joint Oil Analysis Program Spectrometer Standards VHG Labs Inc. Qualification Report for D19-0, D3-100 and D12-XXX Series Standards

Abstract : The Joint Oil Analysis Program recently revised the specification for their spectrometric oil standards in order to incorporate an ICP-AES (Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy) test method and to transition to commercially manufactured spectrometric oil standards. Previously a Rotrode-AES (Atomic Emission Spectrometry) test method was the only elemental test method used to verify the quality of the spectrometric oil standards. The Rotrode-AES test method was a labor and time intensive process that did not exhibit a high level of accuracy and repeatability. The JOAP wanted to incorporate an ICP-AES test method in order to obtain a more accurate determination of the true concentration of the elements in the spectrometric oil standards and to reduce the cost and time needed to conduct quality assurance. Both the Rotrode-AES and ICP-AES test methods are now part of the qualification inspection in order to ensure that commercially manufactured spectrometric oil standards are identical to those that have been produced in-house by the JOAP. As a result this testing effort the VHG Lab Inc. D19-0, Type D3-100, and Type D12-XXX series spectrometer standards are qualified to the MIL-DTL-85694A specification. Since this qualification testing effort was the first time the full range of data required by MIL-DTL-85694A has been generated, analysis of the data has lead to the conclusion that several of the requirements of the specification are incorrect and must be revised.