title: A microfluidic Coulter counting device for metal wear detection in lubrication oil.
abstract: We present the design, fabrication, and testing of a microfluidic device for metal wear detection in lubrication oils. The detection is based on the capacitance Coulter counting principle, that is, on the change in a microchannel's capacitance caused by the presence of a metal particle in the microchannel. The testing of the microfluidic device using 10-25 microm aluminum particles has demonstrated the feasibility for detection and counting of microscale metal particles in low-conductive lubrication oils. This microfluidic device is promising for online oil debris detection by the use of multiple detection microfluidic channels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325-3903, USA.
authors.forename: Srinidhi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Murali
authors.forename: Ashish V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Jagtiani
authors.forename: Xingao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Carletta
authors.forename: Jiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhe