Viscometers are instruments that help in measuring the viscosity and fluid flow of liquids. The viscosity of a liquid can actually have an effect on its performance, whether this is piping or pumping it, or how it executes the coating and dipping process.

Measuring viscosity, thus, implies a broad spectrum of substances, which includes wax, plastics, paints, adhesives, oils, coatings, and asphalt. Plus, measuring viscosity. Measuring viscosity and flow characteristics pertain to the production of familiar consumer goods such as cosmetics, food & drink, etc.

What Does A Viscometer Do?

In short, Viscometers help in measuring the viscosity and flow characteristics of liquids and do have a broad variety of applications, gauging these properties of different materials and substances.

A few examples of all these applications are mentioned below:

Examples of these applications include:

●      Experimenting with the viscosity of inks for inkjet printers.

●      Monitoring & scrutinizing the viscosity of syrups & jams in the generation of food condiments to make sure that the batches are consistent or not.

●      Estimating how motor oil flows when it is put under different temperature conditions.

●      Analyzing the properties of milk's flow when it comes to designing piping systems for it.

●      Viscometers are utilized to specify the activity of enzymes such as amylase, cellulose, pettiness and protease.

●      As the changes in viscosity tend to reflect changes in molecular weight, viscometers are utilized to characterize plastics. Basically, they're useful in polymer synthesis as the flow rate can be utilized to specify the change of polymer length through various processes.

●      It is also utilized in the pharmaceutical/cosmetic industry for the development of emulsions, glycerin, all types of creams, semi-solid lotions, eye drops, injectables, extracts, suspensions, solutions, etc

Viscosity is essential in the lubrication process of machines. If it is extremely low, there will be way too much contact, and henceforth, wear occurs between internal elements. On the other hand, if it is extremely high, it will be able to compel the machine to function appropriately in order to overcome the lubricant's own inner resistance to flow.

What Is Viscosity?

Now, talking about viscosity, it is the measurement of how resistant a substance is to move when you apply pressure to it. For instance, if you squeeze a toothpaste tube, how smoothly do the contents inside the tube come out of the tube's end? Notice that.

And there is also a formula for measuring viscosity — Viscosity = shear stress/shear rate.

The result of this formula is expressed in centipoise (cP). Centipoise is the coequal of 1 millipascal second.

This implies absolute viscosity. And in regard to kinematic viscosity, the measurement is distinct. Here, shear stress is defined as the force per unit area that you require to shift one layer of liquid in relation to another.

Shear rate is actually the measurement of the change in speed in the shift of intermediate layers, with reference to others. Foremost of the liquids, the stress which results in flow is instantly proportional to the rate of shear pressure. The shear stress, when divided by the shear rate, is constant for a given liquid, at a certain temperature.

However, constant is the absolute or dynamic viscosity. But one can simply direct it to the viscosity of the substance. The most simple way of noticing viscosity is the fluid thickness, but when you observe the fluids with different densities, the precise way of explaining viscosity is as resistance to flow.

What Are The Factors Responsible For Affecting The Viscosity Measurements?

 

Basically, the procedure of measuring the viscosity of a fluid may seem to be extremely simple, but there are a lot of factors that must be considered, if these measurements come to be accurate. Here, the temperature is considered to be a crucial factor. The main function of the temperature-controlled bath is to retain a precise temperature throughout the procedure. You must be able to regulate the bath temperature to within 0.02°C of your needed temperature, i.e.,  usually 40°C or 100°C. In addition, there are various temperature-controlled systems that allow you to do this in an easy way.

When it comes to capillary viscometers, the diameter of the u-shaped glass should be clear & specific for accurate gauging. Henceforth, all these glasses are generally manufactured utilizing low-expansion borosilicate glass. These assist in minimizing errors accompanied by re-calibrating the capillary viscometer yearly. Plus, it is also essential to wash and dry rigorously between measurements, making use of a residue-free solvent.

Viscometers will differ in size, in order to measure various types of viscosities. Whatever the size of the instrument is, it is suggested that the minimum time for the viscometer to put up with the measurement should be 200 seconds. This enables the fluid to pass through the marked points.

Which Industries Receive The Advantages Of Viscometers?

According to various studies, the market of viscometers is anticipated to reach $878.6 million universally by 2023. Also, a wide range of industries and sectors make use of viscometers. They are —

a)   Forensics

b)   Food & Drink

c)    Chemical

d)   Environmental Testing

e)   Petrochemical And Oil

f)     Pharmaceutical, Clinical & Biotech Research

g)   Beauty And Cosmetics

h)   Manufacturing Development And Research

Few Tips To For The Preparation Of Samples For Measurement?

When it comes to viscometric measurement, the preparation of samples has an influence on the measurement outcomes. This is specifically genuine when the measurement of samples happens at low shear rates.

Here are some of the things that must be taken into consideration:

1. It is essential not to stir or shake a sample before measuring it, because this can place it under an indescribable shear load unless the specimen has sediment or some other kind of separation. In this situation, shaking or stirring by making use of consistent methods & tools will be essential at this point.

2. In addition, the method of application must be consistent such as a spatula or spoon.

3. Always make sure that there is no formation of bubbles because these can facilitate non-Newtonian behavior and deliver incorrect measurements.

4. Syringe or pipette applications are just suitable for resins, solvents, or oils. And for other materials, these application techniques will boost the shear load, which will ultimately result in reducing measurement values and skew outcomes.

5. Ensure that the sample volume must match the measurement technique you are utilizing. Too little or too extra of a sample can result in erroneous measurements.

6. Always follow the recommendation for waiting times. Preparation might lead to stress on the sample, which might need a recovery period later. The sample structure might require regenerating after you have placed the measuring system in its proper position before you can put up with precise measurements.

7. Lastly, you must also make sure to prevent the sample from drying out completely because this will result in extremely high measured values.


Conclusion

 So, as we have read, there is a wide range of applications for viscometers, and a lot of factors are there that affect the measurement of viscosity. This was all about it; however, if you feel like you have some queries or doubts, you can freely contact us, as we are more than happy to resolve your query!