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Introducing 8 types of viscometers

Different types of viscometers

There are many types of viscometers. How many types of viscometers do you think there are? And what do you think is the difference between each viscometer? Below are eight commonly used viscometers.

  1. Capillary Viscometer
  2. Short Tube Viscometer
  3. Falling Body Viscometer
  4. Falling Ball Viscometer
  5. Bubble Viscometer
  6. Coaxial Double Cylindrical Rotational Viscometer
  7. Single Cylindrical Rotational Viscometer
  8. Cone Plate Viscometer


This article will introduce the features and differences of these viscometers.

Capillary viscometer

Diagram of Ostwald capillary viscometer

A capillary viscometer is the most common type of viscometer. The principle is to flow a sample through a glass capillary tube and measure the flow time for a certain amount.

Features
  • Good accuracy 
  • Measurement range is typically several thousand mm2/s or less
  • Kinematic viscosity (mm2/s) can be obtained directly
Examples
  • Ostwald
  • Ubbelode
  • Backflow type (Canon-Fenske)

 

Short tube viscometer

Diagram of single tube viscometer Engler

This is the principle of measuring the time when a certain amount of liquid flows out from a short pipe outlet hole at the bottom of the container.

Features
  • Simple structure and usage
  • Measurement range: several mm2/s to several thousand mm2/s
  • Find kinematic viscosity by conversion table
Examples
  • Redwood
  • Saybolt
  • Engler
  • Ford cup

 

Falling body viscometer

Diagram of a falling body viscometer

The principle is to put a sample in a glass tube and measure the time it takes for a ball or cylinder to fall through it.

Features
  • If the sphere is made smaller, it is possible to measure at 10 dPa·s or more.
  • Separate density measurement required
Examples
  • Lauer check

 

Falling ball viscometer

Diagram of the falling ball viscometer Heppler

The principle is to put a sample in an inclined glass tube and measure the time it takes for a ball to roll down inside.

Features
  • Accurate measurement of several thousand mPa s or less is possible
  • Separate density measurement required
Examples
  • Heppler

 

Bubble viscometer

Diagram of a bubble viscometer

The principle is to seal the sample by leaving a certain amount of air in the test tube, turn it upside down, and compare the rising speed of air bubbles with that of a standard tube.

Features
  • Easy to operate
  • Useful for getting a rough idea of viscosity

 

Coaxial Double Cylindrical Rotational Viscometer

Diagram of Coaxial Double Cylindrical Rotational Viscometer Stormer

The principle is to put a sample between an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder, and measure the torque acting on one cylinder when the other cylinder is rotated at a constant speed.

Features
  • Useful for measurements above 10 dPa·s
  • The flow of non-Newtonian fluids is investigated
Examples
  • Stormer
  • Green
  • Macmicale
  • Universal rheometer

 

Single Cylindrical Rotational Viscometer

Diagram of a single cylindrical rotational viscometer Viscometer

Principle of measuring torque when a cylinder is rotated at a constant speed in a sample. For those who want to carry their viscometer with them, the best viscometer is a lightweight, single cylindrical rotational viscometer.

Features
  • Useful for measuring over several tens of mPa·s
  • Since the measurement can be held in hand.
Examples
  • B-type viscometer
  • Viscometer

 

 

Cone plate viscometer

Diagram of a Cone and Plate Viscometer

The principle is to put a sample between a cone and a flat plate and measure the torque received by the other when one is rotated.

Features
  • High accuracy
  • Convenient for measuring high viscosity
  • The flow of non-Newtonian fluids is investigated

 

Other

Other types include vibration viscometers, parallel plate viscometers, and rotator viscometers.

 

RION's viscometer is recommended for measuring viscosity!

RION logo

RION's viscometer is recommended for the following three reasons.

1.Confidence in accuracy

RION has a long history of manufacturing and developing viscometers. Utilizing our many years of knowledge and experience, we are able to achieve accurate viscosity measurements that are competitive with our competitors.

2.Portable type that can be measured anywhere

Most common viscometers are large and heavy. However, RION's VT-06 is compact and lightweight while maintaining measurement accuracy. The structure is simple, so even people with no knowledge or experience of viscosity measurement can easily measure it.

3.Loved by many customers around the world

RION is a Japanese manufacturer, but the viscometer VT-06 is used not only by customers in Japan but also by customers in countries around the world. VT-06 may be used for quality control in the things you usually use and eat.