- This test method covers the determination of acidic or basic constituents in petroleum products and lubricants that are soluble or nearly soluble in mixtures of toluene and isopropyl alcohol. New and used petroleum products can contain basic or acidic constituents that are present as additives or as degradation products formed during service, such as oxidation products. The relative amount of these materials can be determined by titrating with acids or bases. This number, whether expressed asacid number or base number, is a measure of this amount of acidic or basic substances, respectively, in the oil—always under the conditions of the test. This number is used as a guide in the quality control of lubricating oil formulations. It is also sometimes used as a measure of lubricant degradation in service; however, any condemning limits must be empirically established..
- This test method can be used to indicate relative changes that occur in oil during use under oxidizing conditions. Although the titration is made under definite equilibrium conditions, the method does not measure an absolute acidic or basic property that can be used to predict performance of oil under service conditions.
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