Rheometer monitors real time change in viscosity during manufacturing process

Rheometer is one of the commonly used device in laboratories to measure how a liquid, suspension or slurry flow under applied forces, mostly used for the fluids that can't be defined using single value of viscosity. According to #-Link-Snipped-#, scientists at Sheffield University are moving closer to commercialising a new kind of sensor that can monitor real time viscosity changes during manufacturing process. The new rheometer can monitor the viscosity changes in liquid while they are under the manufacturing processing, eliminating the need of taking samples to measure viscosity.

[caption id="attachment_42983" align="aligncenter" width="620"] Image Credit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rheometer[/caption]

The researchers came up with a T-Junction channel in which the liquid moves through the main channel and then turns around the corner. At the corner, the velocity of the fluid is zero but as it moves away from the junction, its velocity increases rapidly. By making the fluid turn around the corner, researchers were able to induce a wide range of shear rates in a single geometry. This allowed the research team to develop sensor that can monitor the parameters in real-time.

While the food industry will be the immediate beneficiary of the new Rheometer, it can also be used in the manufacturing of cosmetics and creams.