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Rheology

What is Rheology?

Rheology is the study and measurement of how materials flow and deform under applied stress, strain, and time. Rheology testing characterizes key properties such as viscosity, viscoelasticity, yield stress, thixotropy, and curing behavior—critical for predicting how a material will perform during mixing, pumping, coating/printing, dispensing, molding, and end-use.

Rheology is widely used for polymers, adhesives, inks, coatings, slurries, gels, pastes, and suspensions, helping optimize both processability and product performance.

What Rheology Can Help You Solve

  • Processability issues: pumping, filling, mixing, leveling, sagging, dripping, stringing

  • Dispensing & printing performance: jetting/screen printing, bead stability, edge definition

  • Stability & sedimentation control: thixotropy tuning, particle network strength

  • Batch consistency & QC: lot-to-lot comparison and specification setting

  • Cure/gelation monitoring: crosslinking kinetics, working time, gel point, post-cure behavior

  • Formulation optimization: thickener selection, solvent ratio, filler loading, additive effects

Typical Applications

  • Coatings & paints: leveling vs sag control, shear-thinning behavior, application feel

  • Adhesives & sealants: yield stress, open time, curing profile, squeeze-out control

  • Inks & pastes: screen/gravure/inkjet suitability, recovery, print definition

  • Battery slurries: dispersion quality, coating uniformity, sedimentation resistance

  • Polymers & melts: viscoelastic behavior, temperature dependence, molecular structure insights

  • Food, cosmetics, and gels: texture, stability, spreadability, consumer feel

Test Capabilities & What You Receive

Common Test Modes

  • Flow curve (viscosity vs shear rate): shear-thinning/thickening, Newtonian behavior

  • Yield stress: flow onset and sag/slump resistance

  • Thixotropy & recovery: structure breakdown and rebuild after shear (3-interval tests, hysteresis loops)

  • Oscillatory tests (SAOS): storage/loss modulus (G′/G″), viscoelastic fingerprint

  • Frequency & amplitude sweeps: linear viscoelastic region (LVR), network strength

  • Temperature ramps: thermal sensitivity, transition behavior, process window

  • Time sweep / curing test: gelation and cure kinetics (gel point indicators, modulus build)

Deliverables

  • Plots and key parameters (e.g., viscosity, yield stress, G′/G″, tan δ, recovery %)

  • Clear interpretation tied to your process (dispense/coat/print/mix)

  • Comparative conclusions (sample A vs B, batch trend, before/after aging)

  • Optional: recommended test conditions for routine QC

Sample Requirements

  • Sample types: liquids, slurries, gels, pastes, melts (project-dependent)

  • Typical amount: usually 10–50 mL (varies by geometry and test plan)

  • Condition: homogeneous; note any settling, bubbles, or skin formation

  • Information to provide: target application/process, temperature range, expected shear rates, pot life/cure behavior, and any handling constraints

  • Packaging: sealed container to prevent solvent loss; label clearly

Workflow

  • Requirement review (application + key questions + acceptance criteria)

  • Test design (geometry selection, shear/temperature/time profile, pre-conditioning)

  • Sample conditioning (mixing/degassing/rest time as needed)

  • Measurement (flow, oscillation, thixotropy, temperature/time sweeps)

  • Data analysis & reporting (parameters + plots + practical recommendations)

FAQs

Viscosity is one part of rheology. Rheology also covers elastic behavior, yield stress, time dependence (thixotropy), and curing, which often drive real-world performance.

Rheology results depend on temperature, shear rate, geometry, and sample history. Defining a consistent method is essential for meaningful comparisons and QC.

Yes—by selecting appropriate shear-rate ranges, time profiles, and temperature conditions, we can design a test that better represents your process window.

Often yes. Yield stress, low-shear viscosity, and recovery behavior can correlate with particle suspension stability, though real-time shelf studies may still be needed.

Yes. Time sweep and temperature-controlled tests can track modulus build and provide gelation/cure indicators relevant to working time and handling.

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