INDUSTRIAL PHYSICS
How to measure viscosity Viscosity testing is absolutely essential if you want to be confident that your paints, inks, varnishes and coatings stay in one place! Over time, deformation or flow can have a disastrous effect on the appearance of products or packaging. Measuring viscosity during the test and inspect process allows you to choose the right materials for the job – so your surfaces look as good as they are supposed to all the way from production to final destination.
When viscosity testing is useful Measuring the viscosity of a sample lets you know how much force is required to move it. This lets you know how resistant it is to flow – information that is very useful in a variety of applications. For example, it can tell you whether the ink on a piece of packaging is likely to run or be smudged during shipping, or it can be used to work out whether sauce will pour from a bottle at the required speed. It can even be used to determine whether an adhesive will perform properly over time. Measuring the viscosity of inks and coatings that are used to coat industrial machinery or car parts can also have huge safety and efficiency ramifications, as the integrity of a coating can affect the smooth running of machinery.
Most popular viscosity testing methods There are five main ways of testing viscosity, they are: 1. The rotational viscometer method Often used in production labs and as part of a solid quality control process, this method measures the torque needed to turn an object that’s been placed in the sample fluid being tested. The measurement shows the sample’s viscosity. 2. The capillary viscometer method This is one of the earliest methods of measuring viscosity, first developed in 1800s. It measures the time it takes for a volume of liquid to mass through the length of a capillary tube. These were known as Ostwald or Ubbelohde viscometers. 3. The falling sphere viscometer method This method determines viscosity by dropping a sphere of a known density through a sample liquid and measuring how long it takes to fall. A similar process can be achieved using a falling piston. 4. The vibrational viscometer meter method An oscillating electromechanical resonator is immersed in the fluid sample and it measures the degree of damping the fluid offers, making it possible to work out the viscosity. TQC Sheen RotoThinner DV2700
Due to its huge range of applications, viscosity testing is used across many different industries – from food and beverage to flexible packaging.
Viscosity testing: the materials Viscosity testing is recommended for materials like inks, paints, varnishes and coatings or organic or inorganic surfaces. It can also be used to test everything from foods and beverages to chemicals or adhesives. There are a variety of different testing methods that can be used to test different kinds of samples.
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