Comparison of Several Common Viscosity Testing Tools

This article introduces the advantages and disadvantages of several common viscosity measurement tools, such as Zion cup, laboratory Rotational Viscometer, falling ball or piston viscometer, and vibration viscometer.

Efflux cups (including Zahn cups)

Efflux is defined as "flowing out of a specific substance or particle." A cup of this nature might be more like a Zahn Cup, Shell Cup, or Ford Cup. In short, you fill the cup with liquid, let it drain through a hole in the bottom, and usually use a stopwatch to measure how long it takes the fluid to drain. The "seconds" it takes to drain indicates the viscosity of the fluid.

• benefit

• Cheap

• takes little time

• Little to no maintenance, (basically making sure it's clean and in good condition)

• shortcoming 
  

• Accuracy depends on humans, causing it to vary by up to 30% 

• it can be subjective 

• There are differences between cup manufacturers 

• Inefficient use of time (dependence on labor) 

• unresponsive

Laboratory viscometer (usually a Rotational Viscometer)

A Rotational Viscometer works on the principle that the torque required to turn an object in a fluid is a function of the viscosity of that fluid. They typically measure the torque (magnitude of force) required to spin a disk in a fluid at a known velocity.

• benefit

• very accurate measurements

• shortcoming

• This is an offline process. (often requires removing material from the process, allowing for temperature variations, which can lead to inaccuracies)

• Inefficient use of time (dependence on labor)

• Requires maintenance from batch to batch

• unresponsive

Falling Object (Ball or Piston) Viscometer

In short, a piston (or sphere) of known size and density is lifted and released into the fluid. The amount of time it takes to release from a specific point in the cylinder gives you one type of resistance, which is fluid viscosity.

• benefit

• This is very important when dealing with non-Newtonian fluids, which include most fluids used in printing and coating today. Read our blog series, beginning with "How Newtons Affect Your Coating Process..." for more discussion on Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids.

• High shear device (when using a mechanical device to induce shear, you can better represent the shear stress that the fluid is applying in the process)

• Ability to read small changes in viscosity

• Rugged, (designed for industrial environments)

• Suitable for various applications

• Can be used online (during the process), with real-time feedback

• Unaffected by flow rate or external vibrations

• shortcoming 
  

• can be maintenance intensive

• Parts intensive, (replacing parts can be costly)

Vibration Viscometer

Sometimes called a "tuning fork" viscometer, a vibrating viscometer works by generating sound waves. A stainless steel sensor element is submerged in a fluid and moved back and forth microscopically at high frequency. When the sensor surface shears the liquid, energy is lost into the fluid due to its viscosity. The energy expended is precisely measured by microprocessor-controlled electronics and converted back to viscosity. The higher the viscosity, the greater the energy loss, so the higher the reading.

• benefit

• There is no "moving" part

• little maintenance

• Can be used online (during the process), with real-time feedback

• Rugged, (designed for industrial environments)

• shortcoming 
  

• Often affected by machine or external vibrations 

• Some require a pressurized solvent flush for cleaning 

• If a part fails, the entire viscometer usually needs to be replaced