This is an update of an article originally published in December 2013 - Three years ago.

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Topics: Automatic Digital Tensiometer, Automatic Surface Tension Measurment, Surface Tension Measurement, Surface Tension, du Nouy tensiometer, Liquid Properties, surface tension instruments, surface tension analysis, Digital tensiometer, automatic Tensiometer

You probably know that rotational viscometers work by measuring the torque on a vertical shaft that rotates a spindle.  The spindle is in the test sample and its rotation is impeded in proportion to the viscosity of the sample. These instruments measure viscosity.

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Topics: Viscometers, Viscosity, Liquid Properties

An understandable definition of surface tension: “The attraction force between molecules at the surface of a liquid. The force that keeps if from flying off into space”.

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Topics: Tensiometer, Surface Tension Measurement, Surface Tension, actual surface tension, apparent surface tension, Liquid Properties

A classical definition of Contact Angle:

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Topics: Surface Tension, contact angle, contact angle meter, dynamic contact angle, Liquid Properties

Contact angle and surface tension. The two terms are never far apart. Run a Google search of "contact angle" right now and see for yourself. You'll often see the terms mentioned within a breath of one another because contact angle and surface tension are two approaches to surface analysis - the study of how a surface interacts with other materials or components. Generally speaking, there is also a relationship between the two measurements, one that tends not to be very clearly explained in other resources. I hope to remedy that today.

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Topics: Automatic Surface Tension Measurment, Surface Tension Measurement, Surface Tension, contact angle, contact angle meter, wettability, Liquid Properties

Nearly every day we have a question about differences between Viscosity, Consistency and Surface Tension. There is usually a second part of the question; 

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Topics: Viscometers, Viscosity, Bostwick Consistometer, Tensiometer, Surface Tension Measurement, Surface Tension, Liquid Properties

What do an Irish music technology developer, a British manufacturer of arcade and retro-style furniture, and a dance bar in San Francisco have in common? Given a million guesses, I’d never have thought of this:

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Topics: Surface Tension Measurement, Surface Tension, Liquid Properties

 

 

Abused Bostwick Consistometer -  Before and After

 

Which looks more durable to you?

The value of a Bostwick Consistometer is that it’s easy to use, which makes it simple to do repeatable testing. The Consistometer is made of stainless steel. One would think that this means a long and useful life. However, as I regularly discover, the real world often defies theory.

A Consistometer’s value is diminished if its leveling plate and screws get bent out of alignment. The story that follows tells how people in the real world handle, or mishandle, this instrument, and what can be done to save it.  

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Topics: Abuse Protection Option (Consistometer), Bostwick Consistometer, Consistency, Liquid Properties

I used to think that liquids were pretty simple things. Is that what you think too?

Not so fast. Let’s take a look at three properties of liquids and see if we change our view.

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Topics: Newtonian Fluid, Viscometers, Viscosity, Bostwick Consistometer, Consistency, duNouy Rings, Surface Tension Measurement, Surface Tension, Liquid Properties

 

Automatic digital tensiometers are expensive - three to four times more so than a high-precision manual tensiometer. We hope to clearly depict when an automatic digital tensiometer is not merely nice to have, but essential.

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Topics: Wilhelmy Plates, Automatic Digital Tensiometer, Automatic Surface Tension Measurment, "Ask Art", duNouy Rings, Tensiometer, Surface Tension Measurement, Surface Tension, Liquid Properties