What is metal shavings are which type of contaminant?

Metal Shavings as Contaminants

Metal shavings are a common type of contaminant found in various industrial and mechanical systems. They are essentially small pieces of metal that have been removed from a larger metallic object during processes such as:

• Cutting: Machining, drilling, milling, turning, sawing
• Grinding: Abrasive removal of material
• Wear: Friction between moving metal parts leading to material loss
• Corrosion: The degradation of metal leading to flaking and shedding

Type of Contaminant: Metal shavings are classified as particulate%20contaminants. This means they are solid, insoluble particles suspended within a fluid or present on a surface. They can range in size from microscopic to easily visible flakes or slivers.

Significance: Their presence is almost always undesirable. Metal shavings can cause:

• Abrasive wear: Leading to accelerated damage of moving parts and increased clearances.
• System failures: Clogging filters, orifices, and other critical components.
• Fluid degradation: Reducing the efficiency of lubricants and hydraulic fluids.
• Increased maintenance: Requiring more frequent cleaning, repairs, and replacements.

Sources: The origin of metal shavings can be varied, including:

• Manufacturing processes: Residue from the production of parts.
• Internal wear: Normal or accelerated wear within a machine or system.
• External ingress: Entry from the environment, such as from poorly maintained equipment or improper handling.

Detection & Removal: Detection methods range from visual inspection to sophisticated analytical techniques like spectrographic%20analysis. Removal involves filtration, settling, magnetic separation, and other methods depending on the fluid or system.