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.

A rheology system includes a rheometer including a lower plate and an upper plate, a manipulator including an arm, a loading end effector, a cleaning end effector, and a controller communicatively coupled to the rheometer and the manipulator, the controller including a processor and a computer readable and executable instruction set, which when executed, causes the processor to direct the manipulator to couple the loading end effector to the arm, direct the manipulator engage a specimen with the loading end effector, direct the manipulator to position the specimen on the lower plate of the rheometer, direct the upper plate to engage the specimen between the upper plate and the lower plate, direct the manipulator to couple the cleaning end effector to the arm, and direct the manipulator to engage the lower plate with the cleaning end effector.

The present invention provides an apparatus for use in viscoelastic analysis, for example in coagulation testing of sample liquids, such as blood and/or its elements. In the apparatus for use in viscoelastic analysis, the rotating means are provided below the cup, pin and cup receiving element. The present invention further provides capacitive detection means and temperature control devices, which may be used in the apparatus for use in viscoelastic analysis. The present invention further provides a method of performing viscoelastic analysis, e.g. coagulation analysis, on a sample using the devices and apparatuses.

A rheometer and a method for measuring viscosity of a specimen include a motor-driven measuring shaft, a first measuring part fastened to the shaft, a second measuring part below the first measuring part, the measuring parts defining a measuring gap receiving the specimen and having a thickness set by the measuring parts. A heating or temperature-control unit below the second measuring part temperature-controls the second measuring part. The measuring parts rotate or rotate-oscillate relative to each other about an axis. A hood has an internal contour at the second measuring part and/or the heating or temperature-control unit. The internal contour surrounds and covers the first measuring part and the measuring gap and forms a measuring space. A duct near the temperature-control unit opens into the space, allowing the temperature-control unit to control a temperature of temperature-control medium in the duct.

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.

An analytical device includes a fluid compartment configured to accommodate a solvent, a blocking device configured to close an input and/or an output of the fluid compartment, a flow sensor and/or a pressure sensor coupled to the fluid compartment and configured to perform a measurement with respect to the solvent, a temperature change device coupled to the fluid channel and configured to perform a temperature change with respect to the fluid compartment, and a determination device, configured to determine a thermal property of the solvent based on the measurement and the temperature change.

The invention relates to a method for estimating a viscosity curve of a polymeric material, the method comprising: acquiring viscosity values of the polymeric material at different temperatures (T) under different heating rates (); determining at least one viscosity curve of the polymeric material depending on the measured viscosities for each heating rate (); splitting the viscosity curves into at least one determined melting curve and at least one determined curing curve per determined viscosity curve; determining at least one fitted melting curve per determined melting curve; determining at least one fitted curing curve per determined curing curve; and estimating the viscosity curve of the polymeric material by combining the fitted melting curve and the fitted curing curve.

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.