I was musing, the other day on the designs of two ring tensiometers. One of them is called an interfacial tensiometer and the other simply a tensiometer. The plain tensiometer works only with an upward pull and the interfacial works with both an upward pull as well as a downward push. Before I get to my question a couple of definition might be useful.

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Topics: Surface Tension Measurement, Surface Tension, interfacial tension, interfacial surface tension, surface Tension Testing, du Nouy Ring Method, du Nouy tensiometer, Liquid Properties

Shear Stress - Shear Rate

Viscosity! If you ever think about it, what do you see?

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Topics: Newtonian Fluid, Viscometers, Dynamic Viscosity, viscometer, rotational viscometer, Viscosity Stress, Viscosity Shear Rate, Non Newtonian

The definition of Liquid Surface Tension is simple.  

It's the force that keeps a liquid from flying off into space.

However, the measurement of surface tension can take many forms, which can be confusing. In an attempt to get some clarity, we have articulated two principle measurement concepts in this article: drop-based measurement and force-based measurement.

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Topics: Automatic Digital Tensiometer, Automatic Surface Tension Measurment, Surface Tension Measurement, Surface Tension, Interfacial Tensiometer, interfacial tension, tensiometers, du Nouy tensiometer, surface tension instruments, surface tension analysis

At first glance, viscosity seems like a fairly simple concept. It helps describe how thick a product is, or how well it flows. That's all, right?

In reality, there are several different terms that come under the heading of viscosity. These terms are derived from how the viscosity is measured. When people talk about viscosity, they are talking about one of two things: kinematic viscosity or dynamic viscosity.

It's not easy to find a lot of information on the differences between dynamic and kinematic viscosity. This is my attempt to bring clarity to these two principal concepts.

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Topics: Newtonian Fluid, Viscometers, Viscosity, Consistency, Kinematic Viscosity, Dynamic Viscosity, rotational viscometer, Liquid Properties, density, Texture Analysis, gel time

Yes, you can walk on water: with Surface Tension.

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Topics: Surface Tension Measurement, tensiometers, surface tension instruments, surface tension analysis, walk on water

Yes Harry, there is a Santa Claus. Or, more specifically, there really is a Holy Grail for ensuring consistent particle size analysis. 

If you’ve been following along, you know it was proven by Pequeño and his family of 150 micron particles who tried to bust our friend Harry’s quality control by attempting to slip through the mesh in Harry’s test sieves and defeat sieve certification.

If you missed this drama, check out previous posts in the Holy Grail series here:

Is there a Holy Grail of Sieve Analysis?

Will Certification Lead to the Holy Grail of Sieving?

Does Calibration Light the Way to the Sieving Holy Grail?

Sieve Calibration is the Holy Grail!

And finally check out our eBook here: Free eBook

Now that we have indeed confirmed that, yes, sieve calibration really is the Holy Grail that sieve testers have been looking for, let’s get to work and dive a little deeper. Let’s examine some methods of sieve calibration.

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Topics: Pequeño, Calibration, Particle Size Analysis, Sieve Calibration, Sieve Certification, Sieve Testing, Sieves, Sieving Process, du Nouy tensiometer, sieve mesh, particle sieze testing, sieve stack, Sieve Quality

You may remember Pequeño and his family of very small 150 micron (150µ) particles being very determined to defeat sieve certification.

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Topics: Calibration, Particle Size Analysis, Sieve Calibration, Sieve Certification, Sieve Testing, Sieves, Sieving Process, Sieve Analysis, Sieve Quality

All about sieve Calibration

We continue to search for answers to the question "Is Sieve Calibration Really the Holy Grail?"  Pequeño, you may remember him as a very small (150-micron) particle who has many similar-sized family members. They are determined to defeat Brad and his Sieve Certification. 

Foiling A Sieve Test

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Topics: Calibration, Particle Size Analysis, Sieve Certification, Sieve Testing, Sieves, Sieving Process, Sieve Analysis

Adventures of Pequeño

This is another Adventure of Pequeño: The 150 Micron Particle, I wonder why I get myself into these fantasies. However, once I start I feel constrained to press on.

In an earlier encounter, our little friend Pequeño, was on a determined quest to make it through sieves -- particularly those through which were said be too small for him to pass. In this scenario, Pequeño along with some of his family and friends -- all small particles about 150 microns in size -- are on their way to a sieve test.

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Topics: Sieve Shakers, Sieve Blinding, ASTM, Pequeño, Calibration, Particle Size Analysis, Sieve Calibration, Sieve Certification, Sieve Testing, Sieves, sieve shaker, sieve stack, certfication

Holy grail and Sieve Calibration

Sieve calibration is the final step in determining whether processes yield suitable end results. In other words:

• Is your concrete going to be strong enough?

• Will you chocolates taste right?

• Will your washing powder flow and dissolve as advertised?

• Is there dangerous residue in your pill stock?

• Will the “frack sand” keep the fractures open?

• Is my salt of the correct grade?

If these are not correct, serious consequences could result (e.g. spoiled product, returned batches, rework or scrap).

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Topics: Calibration, Particle Size Analysis, Sieve Calibration, Sieve Certification, Sieve Testing, Sieves, Sieving Process, particle sieze testing