WHAT WE DO

Glossary of Terms

Incompatible fluids: Fluids which when mixed in a system, will have a deleterious effect on that system, its components or its operation.

Indicator: a device which provides external evidence of sensed phenomena.

Indicator, differential pressure: an indicator which signals the difference in pressure between two points, typically between the upstream and downstream sides of a filter element.

Indicator, pressure: an indicator that signals pressure conditions.

Industrial Lubricant : Any petroleum or synthetic-base fluid or grease commonly used in lubricating industrial equipment, such as gears, turbines, and compressors.

Influent: the fluid entering a component.

Infrared (IR) analysis : A form o absorption spectroscopy that identifies organic functional groups present in a used oil sample by measuring their light absorption at specific infrared wavelengths; absorbance is proportional to concentration. The test can indicate additive depletion, the presence of water, hydrocarbon contamination of a synthetic lubricant, oxidation, nitration, and glycol contamination from coolant. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) permits the generation of complex curves from digitally represented data.

Infrared spectra: a graph of infrared energy absorbed at various frequencies in the additive region of the infrared spectrum. The current sample, the reference oil and the previous samples are usually compared.

Infrared spectroscopy: an analytical method using infrared absorption for assessing the properties of used oil and certain contaminants suspended therein. See FTIR.

Ingested contaminants: environmental contaminant that ingresses due to the action of the system or machine.

Ingression level: particles added per unit of circulating fluid volume.

Inhibitor: any substance that slows or prevents such chemical reactions as corrosion or oxidation.

In-line filter: a filter assembly in which the inlet, outlet and filter element axes are in a straight line.

Inside-mounted seal: A mechanical seal located inside the seal chamber with the pumped product’s pressure at its O.D.

Insolubles: particles of carbon or agglomerates of carbon and other material. Indicates deposition or dispersant drop-out in an engine. Not serious in a compressor or gearbox unless there has been a rapid increase in these particles.

Intensifier: a device which converts low pressure fluid power into higher pressure fluid power.

Intercooler: A device which cools a gas between the compressive steps of a multiple stage compressor.

ISO: International Standards Organization, sets viscosity reference scales.

ISO Solid Contaminant Code (ISO 4406): a code assigned on the basis of the number of particles per unit volume greater than 5 and 15 micrometers in size. Range numbers identify each increment in the particle population throughout the spectrum of levels.

ISO Standard 4021: the accepted procedure for extracting samples from dynamic fluid lines.

ISO viscosity grade: a number indicating the nominal viscosity of an industrial fluid lubricant at 40 degrees C (104 degrees F) as defined by ASTM Standard Viscosity System for Industrial Fluid Lubricants D 2422. Essentially identical to ISO Standard 3448.