Evaluation of the antioxidation activity of ionol and piperidone towards transformer oil using FT-IR spectroscopy

In the process of exploitation of transformer oils (TO) antioxidation additives get exhausted and products of oxidation are formed. Through FT-IR analysis we can observe both the chemical processes taking place in the oil and the exhaustion of the additives. In this way, using FT-IR spectroscopy we can both make qualitative and quantitative analyses by registering micro-quantities of the order of 0.3% (w/w). By the help of FT-IR spectroscopy we can measure with great precision the concentration of the additives in the oil and of ionol (2,6-ditert.-4-methylphenol) and piperidone (2,2′,6,6′-tetramethyl piperidin-4-on) in particular. Model mixtures of ionol and piperidone have been investigated in TO in order for the interaction between them in cases of simulated thermal ageing of TO to be specified. An interesting and promising method for simulating ageing is thermal microwave treatment. FT-IR spectroscopy is a rapid and effective method for determining the processes, which occur both in simulated ageing and in real exploitation of TO.