Intrinsic Viscosity – RheoSense

In the simple words, the resistance capacity of a liquid or fluid material is defined by its viscosity. So, it’s nothing but a mechanical friction between molecules in motion. Higher viscosity means higher resistance to deformation of the liquid because of mutual attraction of the molecules. Viscosity is denoted by a symbol? (eta) – a ratio of the shearing stress to the velocity gradient in a fluid.

Consider an example of viscosity with water and honey, water flows relatively freely than honey; it is because honey has the higher viscosity than water. There are various industrial or commercial applications viscosity measurement devices that help you understand the flowing nature and motion of a particular material in a given temperature.

Viscosity is a subject of Rheology

The flowing behaviors of different materials or matters are studied under Rheology. It’s actually a science of deformation and flow of different matters that are put under the controlled testing conditions.

It considers the matters’ liquid, soft solid or semi-liquid state to see their flow under different circumstances. Soft matters like polymer, blood, sludge, silicates, and other biological materials are considered for viscosity measurement. There are basically two types of viscosity – Dynamic or absolute viscosity and kinematic viscosity.

In industrial sphere, Rheology is considered to understand how a fluid material is rubbed, pumped, molded, coated, mixed, sprayed, extended, extruded, chewed, swallowed, transported, stored, heated, cooled, and aged. So you can understand how comprehensive industrial applications are associated with rheology.

Measurement of viscosity and industrial applications

The readings of viscosity vary with different fluid and soft liquid matters. There are different ways to measure viscosity starting from capillary tube methods that were used in early of the 20th century. Now there are many manufacturers of viscometers that come up with different techniques including nanotechnology and digital scanning.

Capillary viscometer uses some specially designed tubes in which a volume of liquid passes through. It shows the flowing speed and space variation under a shear stress (the force required to move matter within an area).

Zahn Cup is a high shear viscometer that has a small hole in the bottom to measure the flowing speed of a liquid. This device is often used for quality control in the paint industry.

Falling sphere viscometer helps you to record a specified point by dropping a fluid sample through it. This device is widely used to see the quality of fuel in the engines.

Vibrational viscometer helps to measure an oscillating electromechanical resonator that is immersed in a particular fluid. On the other hand, rotational viscometer can measure the torque that can turn an object into the fluid form. It’s very much used in production labs to scale a fluid quality.

New technology used in high shear viscometer

The advanced viscometer technology is being used to measure fluid viscosity with higher accuracy, better repeatability, and automation facility even for a small sample volume. The high shear rate is easily drawn to assist industrial processes. For example, viscometer/rheometer-on-a-chip (VROC) technology has revolutionized the way viscosity is measured for industrial applications ranging from fuel, paint, plastic, toothpaste to food products and pharmaceutical industries.

Viscometers that is simply precise... Our innovative m-VROC™ & microVISC™ Viscometers feature patented Viscometer/Rheometer-on-a-Chip (VROC®) technology.