Quality control of rolling oils using the Diana 700 distillation analyser

In the metalworking industry, rolling oil quality and composition are critical to stable production, equipment protection, and high-quality surface finishes. Over time, higher-boiling components can accumulate in rolling oils, reducing lubrication efficiency and compromising product quality – particularly in demanding applications such as food and pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Anton Paar’s Diana 700 automatic distillation analyser provides a reliable way to monitor these changes through precise atmospheric distillation analysis.

Diana 700 enables fast, repeatable characterisation of rolling oils, helping manufacturers detect compositional changes and maintain consistent product quality throughout production. It simplifies daily laboratory work by automating key steps such as heating control, temperature recording, and volume measurement while offering higher safety, precision, and throughput compared to manual distillation.

To demonstrate Diana 700’s capabilities, three typical samples used in the cold rolling of aluminium foil were tested in accordance with ASTM D86: a base oil, a freshly rectified base oil with additives, and a heavily used base oil with additives.

Using a default distillation program, Diana 700 accurately reproduced the manufacturer’s specifications for both the base and rectified oils, delivering excellent repeatability. For the heavily used oil, using the same program caused a noticeable boiling delay, resulting in unstable distillation rates and temperature readings at the beginning of the test. After adjusting the heating program, however, Diana 700 achieved a stable distillation curve, even for this challenging sample.

Further analysis of the heavily used oil revealed elevated initial and final boiling points, as well as increased residue levels, indicating higher-boiling impurities resulting from thermal decomposition of the rolling oil. These findings confirm that boiling characteristics are closely linked to rolling oil condition and can be used to define rectification intervals and minimise product contamination risks.

A detailed application report with full test results is available on the Anton Paar website.

More information online