The characterisation of synthetic lubricant formulations by field desorption mass spectrometry

Field desorption - mass spectrometry (FD-MS) was evaluated as a tool for characterisation of the complex mixtures of compounds typical of synthetic lubricants. The lubricants were initially screened using field ionisation, then tested samples were subjected to field desorption. Results are presented for various formulations for an ester, an ester-synthetic oil mixture, polyisobutylenes, PAO additives, and a fully formulated oil.