RECENT UPDATES

Life Below the Yield

An Interview with Neil Cunningham

It may come as a surprise but most of the liquids in our lives spend most of their lives as solids...read more

AUTOCOATS: WHICH VISCOSITY TEST METHOD SHOULD I USE?

Dr. Lori Boggs Interview

Testing the viscosity of coatings in the automotive world requires a range of devices and instruments...read more

The Ups and Downs of Texture Analysis

Dr. Andrew Rosenthal Interview

Did you ever wonder how food companies evaluate "chewiness" of meat, the "snap" of a biscuit or cracker, the...read more

CUSTOMER CHALLENGE: Reduction via shearing

In the case of thixotropic fluids such as WWTP sludge, is there a method to determine viscosity reduction via shearing? Consultants (and suppliers) rely on experience to know that equipment "A" will allow product of viscosity X to better flow in discharge piping but there is no calculation used to predict viscosity reduction - only rules of thumb.

BROOKFIELD ANSWERS: Answer from Brookfield: The following approaches are for your consideration: read more

CUSTOMER CHALLENGE: Verifying a viscometer

We are using water to verify the calibration of our viscometer. We thought that the viscosity of water is 1cP. Our instrument is reading 1.6cP. Why is the reading so high?

BROOKFIELD ANSWERS: Answer from Brookfield: Using water as a fluid to verify the viscosity reading on a rotational viscometer is not recommended by Brookfield ...read more

CUSTOMER CHALLENGE: Particles over time

How does the settling of particles over time affect my viscosity?

BROOKFIELD ANSWERS: The viscosity value of a material will change when its composition or structure changes.  This change in viscosity is more obvious for liquid ...read more

CUSTOMER CHALLENGE: Testing for viscosity

I need to mix my sample in order to test for viscosity. I’m afraid my mixed sample may separate out. Once mixed, how soon should I test viscosity?

BROOKFIELD ANSWERS: This is dependent on the nature of the fluid, but to do this reliably, you need to set certain parameters. These parameters will include mixing ...read more

CUSTOMER CHALLENGE: Particles/small solds affect on viscocity

Would the presence of particles/small solids in my fluid affect the  viscosity and the viscosity test technique?

BROOKFIELD ANSWERS: Yes.  When particles are small (<30µ), the fluid’s viscosity will generally increase. The smaller the particle, the bigger the increase ...read more

CUSTOMER CHALLENGE: Temperature vs viscocity

How does temperature affect viscosity, and are these changes permanent?

BROOKFIELD ANSWERS: Increasing temperature will decrease the viscosity for most materials if no chemical reaction, solvent evaporation, or degradation occur. ...read more

CUSTOMER CHALLENGE: Viscosity measurement for non-Newtonian solutions

I would like to know if there is a way to give one single viscosity measurement for a non-Newtonian solution (ie. this solution has a viscosity of this) without constraining it a specific shear rate. I was thinking of using the coefficient of thixotrophy (slope of the viscosity-1 verse rate of shear graph) but don't know if there is a better or easier way.

BROOKFIELD ANSWERS: There isn't one "universal" measurement that can be used to describe a particular non-Newtonian material's rheology, to the best of my knowledge. However, ...read more

CUSTOMER CHALLENGE: Fluid Rheology

"How Can I Understand the Rheology of a Fluid?"

BROOKFIELD ANSWERS:

The preferred method used by Brookfield to understand the rheology of a fluid is to perform an up-down speed or shear rate ramp with ...read more