Ultrasonic determination of on-line rheological properties

Household products are becoming increasingly complex as “Generation X” consumers demand superior product quality and function. Manufacturers seeking developing these products must carefully consider storage, dispensing and application properties.

[UKPRwire, Fri Nov 14 2008] Household products are becoming increasingly complex as “Generation X” consumers demand superior product quality and function. Manufacturers seeking developing these products must carefully consider storage, dispensing and application properties.

Flowability is strongly correlated to perceived quality. Rheology measures the time-temperature-dependent flow and deformation of liquids and deformable solids under an applied force. Significant use is made of rheology in the Polymers and plastics industries for deformable solids and in oil and lubricant where viscosity is critical aspect to product performance.

Industries need to reduce waste and improve process control, requires rheological data in real time. Currently in-line rheological measurements are made by adapting conventional rotational technology. However this is not suitable for samples where flow rate modifies the behaviour, and for pipeline operations where cost, size, dependability, reliability, and ease of integration into control systems is an issue.

Ultrasonic methods are ideal process sensors. Ultrasonic Spectroscopy characterises of the thermo physical properties of materials using the response to a high frequency Mechanical wave. Hence ultrasound can be used as a measure the rheological properties of a material. Specifically the attenuation and velocity information can be used to determine the materials longitudinal bulk modulus.

ITS has developed an Ultrasonic Spectroscopy instrument the m3000u which provides attenuation and velocity information on liquids and soft solids.