A Novel High-Throughput Viscometer.
A novel, rapid, parallel, and high-throughput system for measuring viscosity of materials under different conditions of shear rate, temperature, time, etc., has been developed. This unique system utilizes the transient flow of a complex fluid through pipettes. This approach offers significant practical advantages over microfluidic-based devices for viscosity screening: no cleanup is required, the method is high throughput (<1 h for 100 samples), and only small sample volumes (<1 mL) are used. This paper details for the first time the experimental and modeling efforts to implement this mass- and pressure-based viscosity measurement concept as a robust viscosity estimation tool. This approach is very well-suited for viscosity measurements in high-throughput formulation workflows, as it is rapid and parallel and operates directly on samples in various microtiter plate formats. We present systematic experimental observations together with numerical and analytical modeling approaches to characterize instrument capabilities and limitations. The complex transient flow of fluids through these pipettes leads to data-rich pressure profiles. Numerical and analytical modeling is then used to extract viscosity and other rheological parameters from these pressure profiles. We have successfully utilized this viscosity screening tool for a multitude of complex fluids including oils, paints, solvents, and detergents.
Core R&D, The Dow Chemical Company , Midland, MI 48674, United States.
Suraj
S
Deshmukh
Core R&D, The Dow Chemical Company , Midland, MI 48674, United States.
Matthew T
MT
Bishop
Core R&D, The Dow Chemical Company , Midland, MI 48674, United States.
Daniel
D
Dermody
Core R&D, The Dow Chemical Company , Midland, MI 48674, United States.
Laura
L
Dietsche
Core R&D, The Dow Chemical Company , Midland, MI 48674, United States.
Tzu-Chi
TC
Kuo
Core R&D, The Dow Chemical Company , Midland, MI 48674, United States.
Melissa
M
Mushrush
Core R&D, The Dow Chemical Company , Midland, MI 48674, United States.
Keith
K
Harris
Core R&D, The Dow Chemical Company , Midland, MI 48674, United States.
Jonathan
J
Zieman
Core R&D, The Dow Chemical Company , Midland, MI 48674, United States.
Paul
P
Morabito
Core R&D, The Dow Chemical Company , Midland, MI 48674, United States.
Brian
B
Orvosh
Core R&D, The Dow Chemical Company , Midland, MI 48674, United States.
Don
D
Patrick
D004867:Equipment Design; D057166:High-Throughput Screening Assays / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D012371:Robotics; D014783:Viscosity
complex fluids; high-throughput research; rheology; viscosity