A system and methods are disclosed. The system includes a temperature control chamber with a temperature system to alter and monitor a temperature of the temperature control chamber and an electromagnetic viscometer (EMV) inside the temperature control chamber to measure a viscosity of a fluid. The system also includes a sample preparation cell within the temperature control chamber pressurized by a constant displacement pump outside the temperature control chamber. The sample preparation cell includes a stirrer; a first valve between a fluid supply reservoir and the sample preparation cell; a second valve between the sample preparation cell and the EMV, a venting fluid line between the sample preparation cell and a gas capturing system, and a venting fluid line to remove released gases from the sample preparation cell. The system further includes a controller to operate the sample preparation cell, temperature system, and EMV.

Rheological measurement systems for use with systems including pressurized polymer melts and/or other viscous materials are described. In one embodiment, a rheometer is connected to an associated system with a bent, curved, or bendable tube to permit the rheometer to measure rheological properties in locations where the rheometer could not otherwise be located due to the presence of obstructions. Embodiments including rigid straight tubes for connecting a rheometer to an associated system are also described. In another embodiment, a flow-through rheometer is connected to an industry standard ?-20 thermowell aperture that is typically used for attaching temperature and pressure probes to a vessel containing a viscous material such as an extruder or injection molding system.

The invention relates to methods and systems for temperature control, more specifically, a temperature control system for controlling sample temperature of a rheometer or viscosimeter. The temperature control system for a rheometer or a viscometer comprises a heater sub-unit comprising at least an electrical resistor heating element, a Peltier element sub-unit comprising at least a Peltier element; and a displacement system arranged to bring the Peltier element sub-unit into and out of contact with the heater sub-unit.

A system and methods are disclosed. The system includes a temperature control chamber with a temperature system to alter and monitor a temperature of the temperature control chamber and an electromagnetic viscometer (EMV) inside the temperature control chamber to measure a viscosity of a fluid. The system also includes a sample preparation cell within the temperature control chamber pressurized by a constant displacement pump outside the temperature control chamber. The sample preparation cell includes a stirrer; a first valve between a fluid supply reservoir and the sample preparation cell; a second valve between the sample preparation cell and the EMV, a venting fluid line between the sample preparation cell and a gas capturing system, and a venting fluid line to remove released gases from the sample preparation cell. The system further includes a controller to operate the sample preparation cell, temperature system, and EMV.

A method for determining the sticky point of powder samples includes introducing a sample into a first measuring part, placing a second measuring part above the first measuring part to delimit a sample chamber, using a motor to drive the measuring parts relative to one another, using a force application unit to exert a force on the sample normal to a rotational plane of the measuring parts, using a measuring unit to record a torque or shear stress of the sample between the measuring parts, using a temperature-control unit or oven to apply a temperature profile to the sample while measuring the torque or shear stress, and supplying recorded measured values of the torque or shear stress and the sample temperature at measuring points to an evaluation unit. The evaluation unit determines the sticky point from the measured values of the torque or shear stress and the temperature.

An apparatus for measuring rheological properties of a multi-phase fluid is provided. The apparatus includes a static chamber configured to contain a multi-phase fluid having at least a first phase and a second phase. The apparatus also includes a rotor member submersed in the multi-phase fluid in the static chamber. The rotor member is rotatable about a horizontal rotational axis within the static chamber and the static chamber and the rotor member are oriented in a substantially horizontal direction.

A temperature manipulated viscosity control module for stabilizing fluid viscosity in dispensing applications at (or near) the point-of-application. Connected to a central heating/cooling supply unit, the module both senses temperature and viscosity (and, in the case of waterborne materials, pH as well) and regulates the viscosity of the fluid being dispensed by manipulating the temperature of that fluid. This configuration is a combination of technologies applied together to maintain consistent temperature of the fluid and the sensors to assure that process conditions are consistent for measurement, control, and application.

Sample cell devices and support assemblies are disclosed herein. The sample cell includes a novel concentric cylinder and coating design with a right-angle gear drive that enables enhanced rheological measurements in the 1-2 shear plane. The sample call can be used with a support assembly that enables efficient switching between the 2-3, 1-3 shear plane and the 1-2 shear plane without having to remove the sample and allowing for simultaneous imaging with, e.g., SANS or SAXS. Methods for using the sample cell and support assemblies in a 4D-SANS or 4D-SAXS sample environment are also disclosed.

A viscometer includes a viscosity sensor with a liquid flow channel and at least two pressure sensors positioned along the liquid flow channel and configured to measure a pressure drop of a liquid flowing through the liquid flow channel, and a dispensing mechanism configured to cause dispensing of a liquid from the syringe to the viscosity sensor at a known flow rate. The dispensing mechanism and the viscosity sensor are configured to couple with a syringe configured to contain a liquid. The viscometer further includes an electronic controller configured to control operations of the dispensing mechanism and receive and process data from the viscosity sensor. The viscometer includes a sample loading interface, included in the syringe, through which the viscometer is configured to receive the liquid. The sample loading interface includes a selection valve coupled with, and located between, the viscosity sensor and the syringe.

This application describes a viscosity measuring instrument that measures viscosity as a function of shear rate in a high throughput manner. The instrument may include multiple viscosity measurement sensor chips arranged in parallel so that viscosity is measured at multiple shear rates simultaneously for many samples. For example, the instrument may include multiple viscosity sensors with liquid flow channels for measuring viscosities of liquids flowing through the flow channels and multiple syringes, each outlet of which is connected to a corresponding inlet of multiple viscosity sensors. The instrument may also include a pump module with a pusher block having a mechanism to lock and unlock ends of pistons of the multiple syringes.