Introduction
A dropping point tester is an instrument used to measure the dropping point of lubricating greases, waxes, and other semi-solid materials, which is the temperature at which the material softens and begins to flow or drop through a standard orifice under specified conditions, and it is used in the petroleum, lubricant, and grease industries for quality control and specification testing. The dropping point is an important property of greases, since it indicates the upper temperature limit of the grease's useful life, and the tester consists of a test cup with a standard orifice, a thermometer or temperature sensor, a heating system, and a test apparatus, following standardized methods, such as ASTM D566 and ISO 2176; in operation, the sample is placed in the test cup, the cup is placed in the tester, and the sample is heated at a controlled rate, and the temperature at which the first drop of the material falls through the orifice is recorded as the dropping point, and the tester provides controlled heating and precise temperature measurement, with features such as digital displays and automated operation. Dropping point testers are used for testing the dropping point of lubricating greases, for quality control of greases in manufacturing, for testing waxes and other semi-solid materials, for evaluating the effect of additives on the grease, for product development, for research, and for specification compliance, and they are available as benchtop instruments with various configurations. With their measurement of the dropping point, dropping point testers are essential for grease quality testing.
Dropping Point Tester LDPT-T2010
Dropping Point Tester is an oil bath-type unit that holds a capacity of 600 ml. It consists of a tubular heater with continuously adjustable heating power. A glass test tube and a thermo...
Dropping Point Tester (Air bath) LDPT-T2011
It is designed and made as per the “Test Methods for Dropping Point of Lubricating Grease and Solid Hydrocarbon” D566. This petroleum testing is designed to meet the rigorous requireme...
Standards
ISO 2176:1995-Petroleum products-Lubricating grease-Determination of dropping point
ASTM D566-17-Standard Test Method for Dropping Point of Lubricating Grease
Complies with the above standards, but is not limited to them.
Features
1. Dropping point tester for measuring dropping point of lubricating greases and waxes.
2. Standardized cup-and-tube method for determining the temperature at which grease melts.
3. Suitable for petroleum, lubricant, chemical, industrial and research laboratories.
4. Includes heating bath, test cup, thermometer, controller and operation manual.
5. Supports dropping point measurement for grease quality control and characterization.
FAQ
Q1: What testing scenarios is this tester mainly applied to?
A: The dropping point tester is used in petroleum testing, lubricant manufacturing, chemical industry, industrial laboratories, automotive and research to measure the dropping point of lubricating greases, waxes and similar materials using a standardized cup-and-tube method to determine the temperature at which the material becomes sufficiently fluid to drop from the cup, for quality control, product development and specification compliance. It supports lubricating grease dropping point testing (quality control, specification), grease formulation development and optimization, wax dropping point measurement, petroleum product characterization, industrial lubricant quality assessment, automotive grease specification testing, and research on grease thermal properties. The dropping point is an important property of lubricating greases, indicating the upper temperature limit at which the grease maintains its structure (above the dropping point, the grease separates oil and soap and loses its lubricating properties).
Q2: What standards does the tester comply with?
A: The dropping point tester follows relevant ISO, ASTM and GB/T standards for dropping point measurement, including ISO 2176 for petroleum products (lubricating grease dropping point), ASTM D566 for lubricating grease dropping point, ASTM D2265 for wide-temperature-range dropping point, and relevant GB/T standards including GB/T 4929 for grease dropping point. The hardware complies with IEC 61010 laboratory safety standards. Calibration should use certified reference materials (e.g., certified dropping point standards) traceable to international standards. Thermometer should be calibrated per standard. Users should verify the specific standard for their product type (grease, wax).
Q3: What is the warranty period for the whole tester and key components?
A: The whole dropping point tester is covered by a 12-month warranty. The heating bath, test cup assembly, controller, thermometer and housing are covered, while test cups, thermometers, bath fluid and fuses are consumables or accessories. Damage from improper use or unauthorized repair is excluded. Extended service contracts may be available.
Q4: Is this device difficult to operate? Is professional training required?
A: Operation requires trained petroleum laboratory personnel familiar with grease testing, sample preparation and standard methods. We provide operation manuals, training and application support. Proper sample preparation (cup filling, no air bubbles), test setup, heating rate control, endpoint determination (first drop), result reading and interpretation are important for accurate, reproducible dropping point measurement.
Q5: What is the typical lead-time for order delivery?
A: Standard models require 7-30 working days. In-stock units can ship within 3-7 working days. Custom configurations or large built-to-order systems may require additional time, and we confirm the exact schedule before order confirmation.
Q6: Is regular calibration required? What is the recommended calibration cycle?
A: Thermometer calibration against a reference recommended every 6-12 months. Heating rate verification periodically. Test cup condition checked. Routine cleaning and bath fluid replacement. Full system performance verification annually with certified reference materials. Controller accuracy verified.
Q7: Are supporting consumables universal?
A: Test cups, thermometers, bath fluid (silicone oil, mineral oil), reference materials, cleaning supplies and fuses are available from petroleum testing suppliers, though cup type should match the standard. Long-term consumable cost depends on test volume and bath fluid usage.
Q8: Can I customize parameters or supporting accessories?
A: Customization includes test method (ISO 2176, ASTM D566, ASTM D2265), temperature range, heating rate control, number of test positions, automation level, data output and accessories. Additional test cups, thermometers and accessories can be ordered separately. Custom orders extend delivery lead-time.
Q9: Does the purchase include on-site installation and commissioning service?
A: Standard delivery includes the dropping point tester and accessories with an operation manual. On-site installation, calibration and training are not included for standard orders but can be arranged at additional cost. Remote guidance is provided.
Q10: What types of samples are compatible with this equipment?
A: The dropping point tester measures the dropping point of lubricating greases (soap-thickened, polyurea, clay, other thickener types), waxes (paraffin, microcrystalline, synthetic), petrolatum and similar semi-solid materials within the temperature range and test method specification. Different materials require specific test methods: standard greases follow ISO 2176/ASTM D566 (up to 280 degrees C); high-temperature greases follow ASTM D2265 (up to 343 degrees C); waxes may follow specific wax standards. Materials with very high dropping points (>343 degrees C) may not be testable by standard methods. Users should follow the specific test method (ISO 2176, ASTM D566, ASTM D2265) for sample preparation, fill the test cup properly (no air bubbles, smooth surface, proper fill level), use appropriate bath fluid for the temperature range (silicone oil for high temperatures, mineral oil for lower), control heating rate per standard (typically 1-2 degrees C/min), determine endpoint correctly (first drop of material falling from the cup), read temperature at endpoint, include reference material for quality control, report results in degrees C with test method specified, and for product specification, compare with required dropping point (e.g., lithium grease typically 180-200 degrees C, polyurea grease 220-260 degrees C). The test cup should be cleaned thoroughly between samples (residue can affect results). The bath fluid should be replaced when degraded or contaminated. The thermometer should be properly positioned in the bath per standard. The heating rate should be consistent per method (rapid heating can give falsely high dropping point). For greases, the dropping point is not the same as the maximum operating temperature (grease should typically be operated 20-50 degrees C below the dropping point for adequate service life). The tester should be placed in a well-ventilated area (bath fluid fumes at high temperatures). Waste (used bath fluid, grease samples) should be disposed of per hazardous waste regulations. The test should be replicated (typically 2-3 cups) for statistical significance. The dropping point should be reported as the average of replicates with the test method specified.
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