Viscometer
What is
Viscometer?
• A viscometer is an instrument used
to measure the viscosity of a fluid.
• Viscometer only measures under one
flow condition.
What is
Viscosity?
• It is a property of liquids that is closely related to the resistance to flow.
• The force required to move one plane surface continuously past under
specified steady-state conditions.
• It is a measure of how easily a fluid can flow.
• Temperature is important because viscosity changes with temperature.
“Viscosity decreases as temperature is raised.”
What is
Viscosity?
• Absolute Viscosity (Dynamic Viscosity)
• Is the measurement of the fluid’s internal resistance to flow.
• Unit is poise or centipoise
• Kinematic Viscosity
• refers to the ratio of dynamic viscosity to density
• Unit is stokes or centistokes
“Dynamic viscosity gives you information on the force needed to make the fluid
flow at a certain rate, while kinematic viscosity tells how fast the fluid is moving
when a certain force is applied.”
2 Types of Fluid
• Newtonian Fluid
• Non-Newtonian Fluid
Newtonian
Fluid
• A Newtonian fluid is characterized by having a constant
viscosity at a given temperature.
• This is the simplest and easiest fluids to measure in the lab
• Examples are :
• Water
• Benzene
• Oil
Non-Newtonian
Fluid
• A Non-Newtonian fluid is characterized by not having a unique
value for viscosity.
• The viscosity of these fluids will depend on the shear rate applied
• Examples are:
• Slurries
• Paste
• Gels
• Polymer Solution
Factors Affecting Viscosity
• Size of molecules: High particle size solutions show high viscosity. That
is, the size of the molecules is directly proportional to the viscosity.
• Shape of the molecules: Spherical molecules show low viscosity.
• Inter-molecular forces: Large inter-molecular forces have greater
viscosity.
• Temperature: For gas, as temperature increase so as the viscosity
For fluids, as temperature increase viscosity decreases.
Why measuring viscosity is
important?
• Viscosity is used as a defining attribute of a product ingredient. For example, many
common polymers for the grades of these ingredients are often selected or
specified based on their viscosity in their solutions in various solvents.
• Viscosity, as an attribute of a solution or a suspension and invention determining.
For example, whether particles in a suspension will settle at a certain rate.
• It is important for a manufacturer to know the behavior the ingredient for a particular
pharmaceutical in the hands of the consumer
• It also plays an important role in the determination of the quality of different fluids in
different applications.
VISCOMETERS
What are the types of viscometers and how does it work.
Types of
Viscometers
• Capillary-tube Viscometer
• Rotational Viscometer
A. Capillary-tube
Viscometer
• Also known as “U-tube” viscometer
• Used to determine the viscosity of a Newtonian
fluid
• A fluid having a viscosity that is independent of the
shearing stress rate or rate of shear.
• It is mainly based on the principle of the
measurement of the time taken for the liquid to flow
between the certain marks or points.
A. Capillary-tube
Viscometer
• Based on Poiseuille’s law.
This method of measurement, measures time taken for defined quantity of
fluid to flow through a capillary with known diameter and length and is then
compared with time required to flow by a liquid of known viscosity (usually water).
η= π r⁴tΔP/ 8lV
Where , r = radius of inside capillary; t= time flow; ΔP=Pressure under which liq.
flow; L= length of capillary; V= volume of fluid flowing
Type of Capillary-tube Viscometer
PARTS
Ostwald Viscometer Ubbelohde Viscometer
A device which is used to It is a modified form of
measure the viscosity of Ostwald’s viscometer.
the liquid with a known
density.
Ostwald Viscometer
• Fill the tube of the reservoir until it reaches the its mark point (mark C)
• On the capillary tube, suck the liquid using a suction bulb to draw the
liquid to mark A.
• Using a stopwatch, record the time of liquid dropping from mark A
(starting time) to mark B (ending time)
• To calculate:
• where η1 = viscosity of the sample solution; η2 = viscosity of the water; p1
= density of the sample; p2 = density of the water; t1 = time taken to flow
from Mark A to Mark B of the sample in seconds; t2 = time taken to flow
from Mark A to Mark B of the water in seconds
Ubbelohde Viscometer
Advantages & Disadvantages
Advantages Disadvantages
• Measure precise viscosities for many • No single tube is suitable for all
diverse fluids viscosities.
• Small and Portable • Basic models can only be used for
• Inexpensive translucent fluids
• Easy to use • Difficult to clean the capillary tubes
• Can use a wide variety of capillary
tubes on the same viscometer.
B. Rotational
Viscometer
• This viscometers are suitable for both Newtonian and non-
Newtonian systems.
• Principle is that the fluid whose viscosity is being measured is
sheared between two surfaces:
• One that rotates, and another that remains stationary.
• Either the outer cylinder or the inner one is rotated at a constant
speed, and the rotational deflection of the cylinder becomes a
measure of the liquid’s viscosity
Type of Rotational Viscometer
• Couette type
• “Rotating-cup”
• Searle type
• “Rotating-bob”
Couette Viscometer
• In this viscometer, the cup is rotated and
the viscous drag on the bob produced by
the liquid results in a torque which is
proportional to the viscosity of the liquid.
• Example:
• MacMichael viscometer
Searle Viscometer
• In searle type viscometer, the bob is
rotated while the cup is held
stationary.
• Examples:
• Stormer viscometer
• Brookfield viscometer
1. Put the sample into the beaker, while tilting it
to avoid air bubble that might affect result of
viscosity.
2. With the motor off, attached the spindle at a
45 degree angle to prevent air bubbles.
3. Move the gear up and down until the fluid and
is level with the spindle’s immersion groove
4. Operate and enter the key codes to start
rotating the spindle and take the date on the
screen displayed.
Advantages & Disadvantages
Advantages Disadvantages
• Can measure viscosities of opaque, • Can be relatively expensive.
settling, or Non-Newtonian fluids. • Often large and not portable.
• Useful for characterizing shear-
thinning and time dependent behavior.
• Speed of the rotating part easily
adjusted.
• Often linked to computers for semi-
automated measurement.
Viscometer (Its
Application)
Used in the determination of intrinsic viscosity
Used in the determination of light fuels
Used in the control of polymerization
Used in the determination of the flow of different solvents through the pumps
used in HPLC or GC
Used in the determination or study of the physical properties of liquids
References
• https://
[Link]/NaheedAnjum7/viscometer-and-their-types
• [Link]
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20Capillary%20Viscometer%[Link]
• [Link]
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20Capillary%20Viscometer%[Link]
• http://
[Link]/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Viscosity
-[Link]
• [Link]
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%20efflux%20time.
