Methods for determining

Viscosity and Thixotropy

• Capillary U-tube Viscometer
• Ostwald viscometer
• Falling Sphere
• Rheometer
• Cone and Plate
• Cup and Bob
Capillary Viscometer
• Provides a single point on the rheogram.
• Used for Newtonian fluids.
• Can be used to determine dynamic and
kinematic viscosity.
• X and Y marked part is called bulb.

Ostwald viscometer works in a similar

method.
Falling Sphere Viscometer

• Sinle point viscometer.

• Composed of constant temperature jacket(uses
water), sample tube, steel ball and stand body.
• Constant temperature is maintained.
• Sample tube is inversed and steel ball/sphere is
allowed to fall from top to bottom.
• Time to travel from mark A to mark B is noted.
• Procedure repeated to maintain accuracy.
 Rheometer
• It is used for non-Newtonian fluids.
• It’s a multi-point instrument.
• It is a rotational type of viscometer.
• It can operate at various levels of shear.
• This type of rheometer includes ‘Cone and
Plate’ rheometer and ‘Cup and Bob’
rheometer.
Cone and Plate Rheometer
• Sample placed at the center of the plate under
the cone.
• Cone driven by a variable speed motor.
• Sample is sheared in the narrow gap between
stationary plate rotating cone.
• Rate of shear adjusted by a selector dial.
• Torque (shearing stress) produced read on the
indicator scale.
• A plot of rpm or rate of shear versus scale
reading (shearing stress) may be plotted.
Cup and Bob Rheometer
• Fluid sample placed in the stationary cup.
• Bob is dipped into the fluid and the drive
shaft rotates the bob.
• Torque set(spring or electronical sensor)
measures torque(shearing stress) due to
the viscous drag of the fluid.
• Torque obtained from instrument used to
calculate viscosity of sample.