Measuring Viscosity - Major Application Fields

Viscosity is one of the standard physical properties used for qualifying many industrial products. Various types of viscometers are available, of which the rotational viscometer is the most efficient instrument.

Rotational Viscometer

The rotational viscometer provides absolute (dynamic) viscosity values. The basic premise is that a rotation speed is ascribed to the sample, inducing a specific shear rate when using defined geometries. The product’s reaction is based on its viscosity under those specific temperature and shearing conditions, generating torque that is measured by the viscometer and used to calculate the dynamic viscosity value in centiPoises or milliPascal seconds under those conditions.

Factors Influencing Viscosity

A formulated product’s viscosity can change as a function of the effect of several factors, such as time, shear rate, and temperature. To ensure the usefulness of the value obtained, all of those factors must be taken into account by the measuring instrument.

To determine the influence of temperature, a sample’s temperature is measured and if required, regulated by the rotational viscometer.

Regarding shearing, it is possible to integrate the non-Newtonian behavior (falling viscosity with increasing shear rate speed) of most formulated products into a simple control method by using geometries defined by this rate.

Since the time of shearing is also capable of reducing the viscosity, the viscosity measurement needs to be restricted to a fixed duration.

Major Application Fields of Rotational Viscometer

To take into account all the important aspects of viscosity, a rotational viscometer provides an ideal way to assure one reproducible and completely defined measurement.

The rotational viscometer can be used in a wide variety of applications within many different industries, including:

• Pharmaceuticals including suspensions, ointment, gelatins, and syrups
• Construction industry materials such as cement, sealants, coatings, and mortars
• Petroleum and gas industry materials, such as fuel oil, drilling fluids, bitumen, and asphalt
• Chemicals with paper coatings, paints, inks, ceramics, detergents, adhesives, and resins
• Cosmetics and personal care products in the form of hair lotion, mascara, nail polish, gels, emulsions, shampoo, creams etc.
• Foods containing seaweed, starches, soups, sauces, beverages, mayonnaise, ketchup, jams, dairy products, and chocolate

In such applications, Fungilab rotational viscometers have provided the most accurate data for more than three decades.

This information has been sourced, reviewed and adapted from materials provided by Fungilab.

For more information on this source, please visit Fungilab.