PAO DeHS Safety Differences

We have recently heard concerns about the safety of using PAO in filter leak testing. To understand the facts, ATI consulted with Neil Canter, an expert in the chemicals field, to address the concerns raised. The concentration of PAO used in filter leak testing applications is very low, because of this, the use of PAO is not considered hazardous. Please find the analysis in the attached report.

Neil M. Canter

Neil Canter received his PhD in Chemistry from the University of Michigan in 1983 and his BS in Chemistry from Brown University in 1978. He has been working in the lubricant industry for over 35 years. Canter previously worked for the surfactant producer, Stepan Company and the industrial lubricant additive producer, Mayco Oil & Chemical Company (a division of Castrol Industrial). Since 1995, he has been running his own consulting company called Chemical Solutions which specializes in commercial development, marketing, product development and regulatory support for the lubricant industry.

Canter has an excellent background in the types of base stocks and additives used in and their functions in the wide variety of lubricant applications. He has a strong background in how lubricants are formulated, formulators of lubricants and end users. Canter has worked extensive to help clients better understand the synthetic lubricant market segment.

Canter also has strong knowledge in current trends for lubricants applications and can provide guidance on what technologies are lacking in the lubricant industry and where there may be opportunities for additive and base stock producers, and lubricant manufacturers.

Canter is a member of American Chemical Society, Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) and the Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers (STLE). He is a Contributing Editor responsible for writing the monthly Tech Beat column in STLE’s TLT magazine. He is also a member of STLE’s Metalworking Fluid Education and Training Committee, a member of the STLE Education Committee, a past member of the STLE Board of Directors and the Program Chair for the Philadelphia Section of the STLE.

Canter has made many presentations on lubricants over the past 20 years at STLE Annual Meetings and at local sections. He also has contributed to education courses held at the STLE Annual Meeting and at local sections over this time frame.