A364 Analytical Instrumentation

Problem 6 : Scoops
6th Presentation

Republic Polytechnic
Singapore

Activity Owner : Michelle Siow (Dr)

Modified By: Sally Ang and Wu Jing Yi
Approved By : Willy Tan (Dr)
Module Chair : Wu Jing Yi

Copyright © 2010 by Republic Polytechnic, Singapore


The Problem
 In activity 1, the flowability of honey and
mayonnaise was compared by scooping a
spoonful and allowing to flow back into the
container.
 For activity 2, the honey and mayonnaise
was stirred at constant stirring rate and
increasing stirring rate. The difference in ease
of stirring in each instance was compared.
 Your task is to account for the behaviour of
honey and mayonnaise in the two activities and
determine how these phenomena could be
measured and quantified.


 Copyright © 2010 by Republic Polytechnic, Singapore

 What do you recognise?
 Activity 1: Scoop up a spoonful of mayonnaise and
honey and allow it to flow back to the container.
• The flow behaviour of honey is different from
mayonnaise.
• Honey flows more readily compared to mayonnaise
when scooped up with a spoon.
 Activity 2: Stir the mayonnaise and honey in the
separate bowls provided.
• Honey is harder to stir as compared to mayonnaise
and the ease of stirring does not improve with time
and increasing stirring rate.
• Mayonnaise is easier to stir compared to honey with
time and increasing stirring rate and becomes
easier to stir after a few rounds of stirring.
• There are methods and instruments that can be used
to quantify flow properties.

Copyright © 2010 by Republic Polytechnic, Singapore

The Approach

•Why does honey flow more readily than mayonnaise

when scooped up with a spoon?
•What happens to the liquids upon stirring?
•Why do honey and mayonnaise behave differently
during stirring?
•How can these phenomena be measured and
quantified?
•What information can be obtained from this
measurement?
•What are the advantages and limitations of this
instrument? Any alternative?
•What is the purpose of measuring these
phenomena?

Copyright © 2010 by Republic Polytechnic, Singapore

Why does honey flow better than
mayonnaise when scooped up with a
spoon?

Viscosity

Activity 1:
-Mayonnaise has higher viscosity as compared to
honey (see table below)
 Honey flows more easily than mayonnaise.

Substance Viscosity (cP or mPa.s)

Water 1
Honey 1760
Mayonnaise 5000
Copyright © 2010 by Republic Polytechnic, Singapore
Further explanation on viscosity:
Viscosity = Shear Stress / Shear Rate

• Shear Stress
– Force per unit area
required to slide the 2
parallel layers of fluid
past one another
• Shear Rate
– A measure of the change
in speed per unit
distance in which the
intermediate layers move
with respect to one
another
High viscosity:
 shear stress applied
 shear rate (layers of fluid change in speed very slowly)
Copyright © 2010 by Republic Polytechnic, Singapore
What happens to the liquids upon
stirring?
Activity 2:

Stirring action
Stirring action provides shear force and moves the
adjacent liquid layer in the direction of the force.
Different liquid layers moves with different speed.
Velocity gradient is formed within the liquid.

Copyright © 2010 by Republic Polytechnic, Singapore

 Why do honey and mayonnaise
behave differently during stirring?
Because of different flow behaviour
– Newtonian
– Non-Newtonian
Honey => Newtonian fluid

Relationship between shear stress and §Constant viscosity as shear

shear rate is a straight line rate increases

§Constant viscosity with time

Copyright © 2010 by Republic Polytechnic, Singapore

 Why do honey and mayonnaise
behave differently during stirring?
• Non-Newtonian Fluids
Shear Thinning (Pseudoplastic) Flow

Shear stress is a Viscosity decreases

non-linear function when shear rate
of shear rate increases

Example of fluids with this type of flow: mayonnaise and paints

Copyright © 2010 by Republic Polytechnic, Singapore

 Why do honey and mayonnaise
behave differently during stirring?
• Non-Newtonian Fluids
Shear Thickening (Dilatant) Flow

Shear stress is a Viscosity increases

non-linear function when shear rate
of shear rate increases

Example of fluids with this type of flow: cornstarch in water, clay

slurries
Copyright © 2010 by Republic Polytechnic, Singapore
How can these phenomena be
measured and quantified?
1. Using a Rotational Viscometer …
1.Viscosity Different Spindles
2.Speed of
rotation (RPM)

Vane Spindles

Advantages:
1. Easy to use
2.Fast particularly when there are many samples to measure

Rotational Viscometer works by rotating

an immersed spindle in a fluid. Spiral
Viscosity is determined by measuring (pump) Disc
resistance to the rotational force. Spindle Spindles

Copyright © 2010 by Republic Polytechnic, Singapore

What information can be obtained from
this measurement?
Viscosity at particular rotational speed/shear
rate
For Example:
Substance Viscosity (cP or mPa.s)
Honey 1760

-Choose the correct type spindle

-Select a rotational speed/shear rate
-Specify how long the spindle rotates before
making the measurement
-Record the viscosity value cP obtained

Single point viscosity measurement

Copyright © 2010 by Republic Polytechnic, Singapore
 What are the limitations of
rotational viscometer?
For Non-Newtonian Fluids:
To obtain flow behavior at different rotational speeds

For rotational viscometer:

Tedious!
ts of viscosity values at different shear rates needed to plot

-Decide on range of rotational speeds

-Record the viscosity in cP obtained for each rotational
speed value
-Plot a graph viscosity vs rotational speed

Copyright © 2010 by Republic Polytechnic, Singapore

 What are the limitations of
rotational viscometer?
• Difficult to make measurements of low viscosity
materials
• Range of shear rates approx. 0.1 to 103 s-1 .
– Some applications have very high shear rates or very low
shear rates. Eg spraying and levelling.
– Such flow behaviour cannot be characterized by
viscometer

Copyright © 2010 by Republic Polytechnic, Singapore

What are the limitations of
rotational viscometer?

Thixotropic Rheopectic
fluid: Viscosity fluid: Viscosity
decrease with increase with
time at constant time at constant
shear rate shear rate

Not suitable for fluids which viscosities change with

time.
Eg viscosity measured at 1 minute is different from
viscosity measured at 3 minutes.
Copyright © 2010 by Republic Polytechnic, Singapore
 Any Alternatives to Rotational
Viscometer?
Rheometer
Parameters Rheometer Viscometer
Costs Expensive Cheaper
Input Shear rate, Rotating speed
parameters time, (RPM)
temperature etc.

Measurement Viscosity, shear Viscosity

parameters stress, yield
stress etc.

Shear rate Wider Smaller

range
Applications R&D, product Quality control,
and process field testing
development,
quality control
Copyright © 2010 by Republic Polytechnic, Singapore
What is the purpose of measuring
these phenomena?

• Manufacturing/Processing
– Mixing and stirring process in
manufacturing liquids
– Pipe flow for pumping applications
–
• Product Development
– Rubbing to apply creams and lotion to
skin
– New formulation for yogurt, mayonnaise,
toothpaste, ketchup etc


Copyright © 2010 by Republic Polytechnic, Singapore

 What Have You Learnt Today?

• Understand the 2 different types of fluid (Newtonian and Non-

Newtonian) and their fluid behavior.
• Understand the application of a viscometer and rheometer to
quantify flow behavior.
• Know how the information obtained from the viscometer and
rheometer help in some interpretation of fluid properties.
• Be aware of the importance of rheology in various
applications.
• Find out and understand the relationship between viscosity,
shear stress and shear rate.
• Learn how to intepret shear flow diagrams, and understand
the shear flow behavior.
• Understand the basic working principles, advantages and
disadvantages of viscometer and rheometer.

End of Activity 6
Copyright © 2010 by Republic Polytechnic, Singapore