Viscosity Testing

Viscosity Testing and Solutions

Viscosity testing

How can you check whether your paints, coatings, and varnishes are suitably resistant to flow or deformation? With our top viscosity testing devices! Test their resistance to deformation or flow and be confident that your packaging or product will continue to look as good as it should throughout shipping, handling and display.

Viscosity testing machines and accessories

We offer a full range of the best viscosity testing equipment. Check out our cone and plate viscometer – it’s a standard test for dynamic viscosity measurements, adhering to ASTM standards. Or take a look at our flexible Rotothinner machine, which offers complete control during the viscosity reduction process and can even provide useful stability analysis.

Our range includes gel strength testers, perfect for use on thick paints and other materials such as gels and putties, viscosity cups and calculators. We even have our own popular viscosity calibration oils available!

What is viscosity testing?

The higher the viscosity of a fluid, the more it will resist flow. And when you move two fluid layers against one another you create a friction: known as flow resistance. By measuring this resistance, it is possible to calculate the sample’s viscosity. The formula for working out a sample’s viscosity is a simple one: viscosity = shear stress / shear rate

Shear stress is the force per unit needed to move one layer of liquid in relation to the other and sheer rate is the measurement of change in speed at which intermediate layers move with respect to one another. The result is often expressed in centipoise (cP), the equivalent of 1 mPa s (millipascal second).

Viscosity testing methods

There are a few different, widely accepted, industry standards when it comes to viscosity testing, including:

• ASTM D4287, the standard test method for determining high-shear viscosity of a sample by using a cone/plate viscometer. The technique is suitable for testing the viscosity of paints, varnishes, and related products at a rate of shear of 12,000 s−1. However, it may not give accurate results for paints or varnishes that dry very quickly.
• BS 3900-A7, a widely accepted standard method for testing liquid paints (excluding chemical tests) and determining the viscosity of paint at a high rate of shear.
• ISO 2884, a technique for determining the viscosity of paints and varnishes at a high rate of shear that measures flow time with the use of flow cups.

As always, we select our machines and viscosity testing solutions with industry standards in mind, so you can be confident when you’re picking your test and inspect machines with us.

Help choosing your viscosity test and inspect solutions

As well as being able to give you expert advice on the viscosity test and inspect solutions that will best suit your product line, we can support you at every step of the way – from selection to installation and ongoing maintenance. We also offer comprehensive training so you can make the most of your machines. Ready to find out more about out viscosity testers or gel strength testers? Just get in touch.

To find out more about our viscosity solutions for inks and coatings access our latest guidebook today.

The Industrial Physics range includes gel strength testers, perfect for use on thick paints and other materials such as gels and putties, viscosity cups and calculators. We even have our own popular viscosity calibration oils available!