20 Minutes With... Dr. Vivek Palekar

This Chevron researcher leads a technical lab that conducts wear and failure analyses, lubricant performance testing and new technology evaluations.

Professional experience

* Chevron Global Lubricants, Richmond, Calif., Tribology Team Leader, 2005-present.

* ChevronTexaco Global Lubricants, Richmond, Calif., Scientist, Industrial oils Technology, 2003-2005.

* D.A. Stuart Co., Warrenville, III., 2001 -2003.

* Quaker Chemical Corp., Conshohocken, Pa., 1996-2001.

Education

* Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pa. Doctorate in Chemical Engineering, 1996.

* Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pa. Master's of Science in Chemical Engineering, 1993.

* University of Bombay, Bombay, India. Bachelor's of Science in Chemical Engineering, 1991.

Affiliations

* STLE Corporate Industrial Representative, Chevron Global Lubricants

* STLE Annual Meeting-Presenter for Advanced Lubrication Class on Wear & Wear Mechanisms

* Technical Paper reviewer, Tribology Transactions

* SAE, NLGI, ACS and ASM

Papers and Presentations

* Author of more than 30 papers and presentations in the area of automotive and industrial lubrication.

What kinds of technical projects are you involved with at Chevron?

My primary focus is in providing technical leadership in wear and failure analysis. Our laboratory is responsible for understanding the root cause of the problem dealing with wear and failure analysis and providing a viable solution. Finding the right solution to the problem involves understanding the process, whether it be automotive or industrial.

More recently, I have noticed significant growth in the area of performance testing. We've been developing methodologies to understand the competitive landscape and focusing on next generation lubricants and additive solutions.

Modern sub-assemblies can be rather complex, and a failure is typically caused by a chain of events. The science lies in evaluating the parts to identify what started this sequence. The art lies in identifying alternative technologies to reduce failures in the future. This is why performance testing is so valuable.

In addition, 1 provide technical support to several other business units within the Chevron enterprise as well. In particular, I help evaluate new and emerging technologies and identify potential attributes and applications. The equipment in our lab is an asset that can be used to evaluate the fundamental properties of a variety of different materials such as slurries, catalysts, polymers, surface coatings, etc.

Since your tribology background spans both the automotive and industrial sectors, what do you see are the major differences between the two areas?

As you are probably aware, the automotive sector is highly regulated with category engine tests (ASTM/SAE) and standards set by OEMs and lubricant marketers (API/ILSAC). This has led to expensive qualification programs and, consequently, it is difficult for new players to enter the market.

This market is dominated by larger oil companies. Passenger car motor oils have been challenged by commoditization to an extent. The heavy-duty market, however, has been able to identify performance challenges mostly driven by environmental regulations. This has led to quality differences and some premium products have been able to establish themselves as market leaders very clearly.

In the industrial sector, the quality products are identified mostly by field performance. Field trials are typically driven by individual needs, so product lines tend to be very diverse and customer focused. In addition, small companies tend to be very good at this. Consequently, the industrial sector is dominated by many small specialty companies marketing into niche applications such as metalworking, bio-based products, specialty greases and so on. Field support requirements are significantly higher in this arena, and margins can be lower as a result.

Why is wear and failure analysis testing important to Chevron?

Chevron is a market leader in the commercial sector and does a lot of fleet testing and OEM support in this area. Our goal is to always ensure technically accurate documentation for proof of performance evaluations.

Wear and failure analysis is critical to understanding material defects, parts misalignment problems, oil contamination, identifying coolant leaks or other issues which tend to cause engine and bearing failures.

In the industrial sector, yellow metal wear and related failure is an area of interest to me. This helps identify deficiencies in current technology, which can then be used as input into future technology development programs. The whole area of corrosion and corrosive wear is also critical in understanding how to prevent such failures in the future.

Does lubricant performance testing help Chevron come up with better lubricants and additives?

That's a good question. The Stribeck Curve helps us identify the different regimes of lubrication for any particular application. We have the capabilities to test lubricants in each regime: boundary, elastohydrodynamic (EHD) and full hydrodynamic lubrication. Laboratory evaluations focus on single parameters of interest. However, this can give us some insight into possible mechanisms by which these additives function.