If you are looking for any design of viscosity tester, this guide highlights some of the most common options in the market.
They feature different technologies, working principles, and designs.
Let’s look at some of the six popular options in the market.
1. Orifice Viscosity Testers
This type of tester features a cup with a hole for the fluid to flow.
To determine viscosity, you will check the time it takes to empty the cup.
You can operate this tester manually, eliminating the need for enhanced skills.
You only have to dip it inside the fluid you want to test.
Orifice viscosity tester is suitable for painting industries. They use Zahn cups or Ford cups.
Orifice Viscosity Tester
2. Capillary Viscometers
When it comes to capillary viscometers, you have:
- Ubbelohde
- Ostwalds
They feature an easy-to-use glass tube, which is U-shaped, and two bulbs.
One of the bulbs is lower than the other.
The fluid you are testing flows from the higher tube to the lower one via capillary.
Operating the capillary viscometer and the fluid within controlled temperatures would be best.
The working principle depends on the flow rate. That is, the time the fluid takes to flow from one tube to another.
Capillary Viscometer
3. Falling Piston Viscometers
The work of falling piston viscometers depends on piston cylinders.
You will allow the fluid to flow into the piston cylinder.
Of course, you will raise the piston cylinder. You will determine viscosity by measuring the time fluid takes to fall.
The falling speed will depend on resistance.
The advantage of this type of tester is its simplicity and durability.
Whenever you are using this tester, use a small sample.
Falling Piston Viscometer
Additionally, the tester is popular for the consistency and reliability of results.
A falling piston viscometer allows you to measure viscosity at high temperatures and pressure in various industrial plants.
4. Rotational Viscometers
With rotational viscometers, you will dip the rotating spindle in the fluid.
Unlike the other testers, you will determine fluid viscosity by measuring the force-rotating viscometer spindle.
It determines the internal shear stress of the fluid.
Rotational Viscometer
Some of the main benefits of rotational viscosity testers include the following:
- High level of accuracy
- They are economical
- Works well with a range of fluids
- You can determine other fluid characteristics, such as shear thinning
- You can adjust speeds
5. Falling Ball Viscometers
The working mechanism resembles the falling piston viscosity tester.
However, this type involves dropping the ball into a given fluid you want to measure its viscosity.
For this tester, you will determine the dimensions of the ball for better accuracy and precision.
Falling Ball Viscometer
Viscosity is the time it takes for the ball to reach the bottom of the fluid.
The unit of measurement is the seconds.
6. Vibrational Viscometers
For these viscometers, you will measure viscosity using a vibrating rod.
Of course, you have to power the vibrating rod.
Vibration resistance is different depending on the type of fluid you are testing.
The measure of vibrational resistance is what gives you fluid viscosity.
This type of tester is popular due to its accuracy.
Vibrational Viscometer
The accurate working of this tester depends on factors like:
- The necessary power for the vibrating rod to maintain a given frequency.
- How long it takes for the decaying of your sample fluid after the oscillation process stops
- How the different waveforms behave
Conclusion
At SaintyCo, we have a range of viscosity testing machines for various applications.
Our engineers will guide you on the best viscosity testing technology to adopt.
Contact us now for all your pharmaceutical instruments.
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