MAN0378-1.0 Visco 88 User Manual

Visco 88User Manual

MAN0378 Issue 1.0 October 2006

© Malvern Instruments Ltd. 2006

Malvern Instruments makes every effort to ensure that this document is correct. However, due to Malvern Instruments’ policy of continual product development we are unable to guarantee the accuracy of this, or any other document after the date of publication. We therefore disclaim all liability for any changes, errors or omissions after the date of publication. No reproduction or transmission of any part of this publication is allowed without the express written permission of Malvern Instruments Ltd.

Head office:

Malvern Instruments Ltd.Enigma Business Park,Grovewood Road,Malvern,Worcestershire WR14 1XZUnited Kingdom.Tel + [44] (0)1684-892456Fax + [44] (0)1684-892789

Windows 2000 and XP are registered trademarks of the Microsoft Corporation.

Visco 88 is a registered trademark of Malvern Instruments.

Printed in England

Table of Contents

Part 1 - Operator’s Guide

Introduction to this manual

About this manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1How to use this manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1Access to the instrument . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1Where to get help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2

What is the Visco 88?

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1Operating principles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2Key components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2Measuring systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-5Temperature control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-10Power supply and battery operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-11

Making a measurement

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1Assembling the instrument . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2Getting started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4Choosing a rotational speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4Choosing a measurement system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-5Fitting and loading the cup and bob . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-7Fitting and loading plate systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-8Optimising the measurement system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-9Starting the measurement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-10Completing the measurement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-11Closing down the viscometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-11

Visco 88 Page i

Table of Contents Visco 88

Other tasks

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1Adjusting the residual torque . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2Reporting the residual torque . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3Calculating rheological data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-4Changing measuring system constants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-4Freezing the display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5

Using the Bohlin software

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-1About the software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2Installing the software. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2Connecting to the computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2Getting started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2Making a measurement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-5Evaluating results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-7Closing down the system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-7Setting up users . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-7

Maintenance and troubleshooting

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2Fault finding. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4

Page ii MAN 0378

Visco 88 Table of Contents

Part 2 - Appendices

Health and safety

General warnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A-1Power safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A-2Sample handling warnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A-3

Specification

Site requirements

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .C-3Environmental conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .C-3Space required. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .C-4Power requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .C-4

Regulatory statements

EMC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .D-1

Index

Visco 88 Page iii

Table of Contents Visco 88

Page iv MAN 0378

Part 1 - Operator’s Guide

1

Introduction to this manual

About this manual

This manual covers the operation and maintenance of the Visco 88 instrument. This is a portable, easily-handled viscometer for laboratory, plant and field use. It can be used standalone or connected to a computer running the Bohlin software.

The aims of this manual are to:

Explain what the Visco 88 is and how it works.

Describe the main hardware components.

Explain how to use the instrument to make a measurement.

Explain how to perform other tasks, for example adjusting the residual torque.

Explain how to use the instrument connected to a computer running the Boh-lin software.

Identify the user maintenance and troubleshooting procedures.

How to use this manual

We recommend reading this manual fully before starting the first measurement. Users must read the Health and Safety information in Appendix A before operating the Visco 88. Appendix B gives the specification of the instrument.

Access to the instrument

This guide is for operators of the instrument. An operator is a person trained in the use of the system. The operator can perform all user maintenance routines identi-fied in Chapter 6.

Visco 88 Page 1-1

Chapter 1 Introduction to this manual1
NoteRemoval of the covers by anyone but a Malvern Instruments engineer will invalidate the warranty of the instrument.
Where to get help

Help desk

All queries regarding the system should initially be directed to the local Malvern Instruments representative. Please quote the following information:

The model and serial number of the instrument (located with the connectors under the flap on the back of the casing).

If the Bohlin software is being used with a computer connected to the instru-ment, the software version (to find this, select Help-About in the software).

Contact the United Kingdom help desk if the local Malvern Instruments repre-sentative is not available. Its direct line is +44 (0) 1684 891800.

NoteThis help line is primarily English speaking.

Remote support

Malvern Instruments offers a remote support service, delivered by an Internet con-nection. Benefits include fast and efficient fault diagnosis, reducing downtime and costs.

Online user training is also available, plus software updates. A high speed Internet connection is recommended for making use of this facility.

Malvern website - www.malvern.com

The Malvern Instruments website offers a comprehensive range of material charac-terisation resources for use by customers 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Resources include Frequently Asked Questions, a knowledge base and application notes, plus information on other material characterisation solutions that Malvern can provide.

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Page 1-2 MAN 0378

2

What is the Visco 88?

Introduction

The Visco 88 is a portable, easily-handled viscometer for laboratory, plant and field use. Because of its wide selection of measuring systems, the Visco 88 is extremely suitable for demanding product and process control situations where precision is required.

In addition to standalone use, the Visco 88 can be controlled by a connected com-puter. The computer can run the Bohlin software which allows pre-programmed measurements, as well as data processing and graphic layout of results. Use of this software is described in Chapter 5.

This chapter describes:

Operating principles.

Key components.

Measuring systems – the cup and bob (the default) and cone and plate/parallel plate options.

Temperature control.

Connections.

Power supply and battery operation.

Visco 88 Page 2-1

Chapter 2 What is the Visco 88?2
Operating principles
The viscometer is a constant speed motor with a torque detection system. The sample to be tested is placed in the gap between upper and lower measuring sys-tems.

The instrument uses a controlled shear rate. That is, it applies a shear rate (rota-tional speed) and measures the resultant shear stress (torque) needed to maintain the shear rate. Torque and movement are converted into "rheological format" using a set of measuring system constants.

The calculated shear rate, shear stress and viscosity are based on Newtonian liquid properties. When non-Newtonian liquids are studied it is possible to calculate the true shear rate, etc. by using the rotational speed and torque readings. The measur-ing system constants used to convert the rotational speed and torque to shear rate and stress are based on Newtonian liquids.

Key components

This diagram shows the main features of the viscometer:

ill 7440

Page 2-2 MAN 0378

What is the Visco 88? Chapter 2

The main components are:

Stand – keeps the instrument stable. The instrument does not have to be used while placed in the stand. The viscometer can be held in the hand and the measuring system just placed in the sample to be measured.

Clamp – this is used to adjust the height of the instrument relative to the base. Tighten the lock nuts on this to keep the instrument secure.

Base plate – this weighted plate keeps the stand in place. A light plastic cover plate fits over this to retain spilt samples for easy cleaning.

Main instrument – this is the viscometer itself. All the remaining compo-nents in this list are parts of this.

Control buttons – these four buttons are:

START – starts/stops the motor. An LED above the button comes on when the motor starts.

CAL (Calibration button) – for residual torque adjustment.

FUNCTION – switches between display modes on the LCD screen . When this is pressed the desired parameter can be read on the display. (The residual torque adjustment position, Cal, can also be reached by holding down this button; see Chapter 4.)

ON/OFF – turns power to the instrument on/off. If the power is switched off the display will be blank. When it’s switched on the display initially shows OFF, indicating that the motor is not running.

NoteThe control buttons (except ON/OFF) and the SPEED and SYSTEM switches are disabled when a computer is connected for software opera-tion. Full details of how to use the software are given in Chapter 5.

SPEED switch – used to select a rotational speed, one of eight settings between 20 and 1000 rpm. When the Bohlin software is in use, more speed set-tings within this range are available.

SYSTEM switch – used to select the measuring system; see Chapter 4.

Chuck – holds the upper measuring system. To insert a system, push its shaft fully into position in the chuck. To remove a measurement system, push the chuck itself upwards while holding the measurement system as it comes loose.

Temperature sensor – this PT100 sensor enables direct temperature meas-urement of the sample for cup and bob measurements. This is useful as viscos-ity is a function of temperature.

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Visco 88 Page 2-3

Chapter 2 What is the Visco 88?

Digital display – this shows the status of the system and measurement data for torque, speed, viscosity, shear stress, shear rate and temperature.

System status parameters are shown as follows:

ill 7722

This text may not all be shown at the same time. In the above example:

1 is the set of measuring system constants which is in use (ranging from 1 to 8); these are described in the following section.

OFF is the motor speed. This area of the display will show LO or HI when the measurement is out of range (too low or too high, respectively).

OK shows, when a computer is connected, that communication with it has been achieved.

Low bat. is the battery low indicator (always seen temporarily at power-on).

The labels for viscosity, shear rate, shear stress, torque, temperature, rotational speed and torque are displayed as shown below:

ill 7723

Only one of these parameters (modes) is shown at any time. Step through the modes by pressing the FUNCTION button repeatedly. The large number in the display shows the value of the parameter:

η (Pas) – viscosity.

(1/s) – shear rate. The 1/s units are represented as s-1 in this manual.

τ (Pa) – shear stress.

T (°C) – temperature.

f (Hz) – rotational speed.

M (mNm) – torque.

Instrument rear

On the back of the instrument the only feature is the lift-up flap which protects the connectors (described below in the Connections section).

OFF1 Low bat.OK

η (Pas) f (Hz)

γ (1/s)

τ (Pa) M (mNm)

T (°C)0.78.

γ.

Page 2-4 MAN 0378


Measuring systems

The sample is placed between two measuring systems. There are two types of measuring system, cup and bob and cone and plate/parallel plate. Cup and bob is the default, the others are available as an option.

Cup and bob (coaxial cylinder)

This consists of a solid cylinder with a conical base rotating inside an outer cylin-der with the sample placed between the two, like this:

ill 7725

The standard instrument has three concentric cylinder measuring systems:

Inner cylinder diameter: 14mm, 25mm and 30mm.

Outer cylinder diameter: 15.4mm, 27.5mm and 33mm.

Measuring system combinations (using constant set 1)

Using the default constant set, set 1 (Chapter 3 describes these constant sets in more detail), the following eight measuring system combinations are available.

Use the SYSTEM switch on the front panel of the instrument to select the combi-nation to use.

1

2

3

1

2

3

Visco 88 Page 2-5


The terms in the Designation column are:

DIN53019 – when the cup and bob combination shown is used, the gap is known and meets this DIN standard. For all these there is a 1:1.1 ratio between the inner and outer cylinders. For example, 33mm is 1.1 x 30mm.

Infinite sea – the term used when the upper measuring system is placed in any much larger container of the sample.

Wide gap – when a 25mm or 30mm cup is used with a 14mm bob, the gap is much wider than the DIN standard. This is termed “wide gap”.

These combinations allow measurement of a wide range of viscosities and meas-urement of materials which cause particle jamming in narrow gaps.

The outer cylinder is equipped with a bayonet fitting and the inner cylinder has a spring-loaded chuck attachment. This makes measuring systems easy to change.

The outer cylinders have removable bases to make cleaning easier. The O rings in the base are made of Viton. The measuring systems are made of stainless steel 316.

By default the cup and bob system has no temperature control, although it is avail-able as an option.

Cone and plate/parallel plates

These measuring systems are used for measurement of high viscosity fluids and pastes. An integral water jacket within the lower measuring system allows external temperature control. The sample is placed on the flat lower plate and the cone or flat (parallel) plate is held by the chuck.

SYSTEM switch

positionInner

cylinderOuter

cylinder Designation

Estimated sample volume

1 14 mm 15.4 mm C14 DIN53019 10ml

2 25 mm 27.5 mm C25 DIN53019 15ml

3 30 mm 33.0 mm C30 DIN53019 17ml

4 14 mm - Infinite sea -



7 14 mm 33.0 mm Wide gap 50ml

8 25 mm 33.0 mm Wide gap 32ml

Page 2-6 MAN 0378


ill 7726

Cone and plate Parallel plates

Cone and plate (CP) systems are defined in terms of cone angle and diameter. The cone is always the upper system. For example, a CP2.5°/30 cone has an angle of 2.5° and a 30mm diameter. Parallel plate systems are referred to as PP followed by the diameter of the upper plate in millimetres.

The lower plate is the same for both these systems. Chapter 3 describes how to set the gap between the upper and lower measuring systems.

The lower measuring system clamps onto the stand as shown below:

ill 7741

34

5

7

1

2

6

7

Visco 88 Page 2-7


Its components are:

Clamp – slide this onto the column before the viscometer clamp as the lower plate must be below the viscometer.

Lower measuring system (plate) – this can incorporate temperature con-trol, if required.

Upper measuring system (cone or parallel plate) – this is pushed into the chuck .

Gap adjustment screw – this is used to adjust the gap as described in Chap-ter 3.

Water inlet and outlet – if using temperature control, connect the fluid sup-ply to these.

Measuring system combinations (using constant set 5)

For cone and plate/parallel plate systems, eight different measuring system combi-nations are available. The table below shows the main combinations. For these measuring systems change the constant set from the default, 1, to 5. The procedure for doing this is described in Chapter 4.

Use the SYSTEM switch on the front panel of the instrument to select the combi-nation to use. This provides the following eight measuring system combinations:

SYSTEM switch

position Upper cone

or plate Gap to

use

Designation

Estimated sample volume

1 PP 15mm 0.5mm PP15 0.1ml

2 PP 30mm 0.5mm PP30 0.4ml

3 PP 15mm 1mm PP15 0.2ml




7 CP5.4°/15mm 0.15mm CP5°/15 0.2ml

8 CP5.4°/30mm 0.15mm CP5°/30 0.7ml

Page 2-8 MAN 0378


Temperature control

The viscometer does not have any integrated system of temperature control, but external temperature controllers can be used as follows:

Cup and bob systems – Malvern can supply a thermal jacket as shown below to fit over cup and bob geometries. This allows use of an external fluid circulator to regulate the sample temperature when using the DIN standard or wide gap configurations. This has fluid inlet and outlet pipes.

ill 7742

Cone and plate/parallel plate – temperatures can be controlled by circulat-ing water through the lower plate inlet and outlet (shown below). An external water circulator is used to control the temperature.

ill 7443

1

2

3

Visco 88 Page 2-9


Connections

The flap on the back of the viscometer gives access to the connectors:

ill 7727

The ports are:

Analogue output – the torque reading can be output to an external recorder connected to this. In this way, time-dependent properties can be studied more accurately as by default no result buffering occurs. The connector is a BNC type connector giving between 0 and 1 volts.

PSU input – plug the power cable from the supplied AC adapter in here.

RS232 – connects to the computer running the Bohlin software. Only use the cable provided for this purpose.

Caution!Do not adjust the calibration pots ; these are for Malvern Instruments service personnel only. If the settings are changed a service visit will be required.

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Page 2-10 MAN 0378


Power supply and battery operation

The instrument is powered by one of the following:

The mains power socket using an AC adapter.

Warning!Do not use any AC adapter or cable other than those supplied.

Integral Ni-Cd batteries – these can be used for between 1.5 and eight hours, depending on the workload. The batteries are recharged automatically when the instrument is connected to the mains. Complete recharging of the batteries takes 15 hours.

Low battery voltage is indicated by the text Low bat. on the display. (This always appears for a few seconds after power-on, but then disappears if the bat-teries are charged).

Visco 88 Page 2-11


Page 2-12 MAN 0378

3


Introduction

This chapter describes all the steps in making a measurement. It covers:

Assembling the instrument.

Getting started – powering on the viscometer.

Choosing a rotational speed.

Choosing a measurement system – which system to use, how to fit this to the instrument, and how to check that the measurement system is optimal.

Fitting and loading the cup and bob. This covers:

Fitting the measuring system.

Loading the sample.

Fitting and loading plate systems. This covers:

Fitting the measuring system.

Setting the correct gap.

Loading the sample.

Optimising the measuring system – this is optimising the torque to take account of the viscosity of the sample.

Starting the measurement.

Completing the measurement – this is described in detail in Chapter 6.

Closing down the viscometer.

Work through each step in turn.

Visco 88 Page 3-1

Chapter 3 Making a measurement3
Assembling the instrument
The viscometer can be assembled in minutes. The procedure below assumes it is being used on its stand. If the measuring system is simply being dipped into a larger container of the sample (to make infinite sea measurements), just fit the upper measuring system into the chuck as described in the relevant Fitting and loading ... section below.

The assembly steps are shown in the following diagrams.

To assemble the instrument:

1. Remove all items except the measuring systems from the packaging.

Caution!The Visco 88 is a precision instrument and needs careful handling.

2. Use the Allen key supplied to fasten the stand column to the heavy base plate . Place the base plate on the bench.

3. Place the light plastic base plate cover over the base plate.

ill 7744

4. If using a cone and plate/parallel plate measuring system, slide its clamp over the stand column and tighten the clamp nut a few centimetres from the base of the column. (The fluid outlets must be below the clamp, not above it.) Do not overtighten the clamp nut.

5. Slide the viscometer clamp over the stand column (there’s a groove in the column which the screw penetrates when the nut is tightened). Tighten the clamp nut a few centimetres from the top of the column. Do not overtighten the nut.

34

1

2

Page 3-2 MAN 0378

Making a measurement Chapter 3

6. Push the viscometer into position in the hole in its clamp. Hold the viscom-eter steady while tightening the clamp nut . Do not overtighten the nut.

ill 7750

7. If using a computer to run the Bohlin software, connect the cable from this to the connector on the back of the viscometer.

8. Unless using the battery, plug the AC adapter into the AC power supply and the other end of the cable into the viscometer. If intending to use the viscometer unplugged, make sure that the batteries are charged. If they are not, after the viscometer is powered on the display will continue to read Low bat even after the initial few seconds.

ill 7749

Now work through the rest of this chapter in the order given to make the measure-ment.

7

8

56

Visco 88 Page 3-3

Chapter 3 Making a measurement

Getting started

Press the ON/OFF button to switch the power on. The display will initially show OFF, indicating that no speed has been set.

Choosing a rotational speed

The shear rate is directly proportional to the rotational speed. Use the SPEED switch to select the speed at which the upper measuring system will turn.

Eight speeds are available in a specific progression scale as shown below:

NoteThese speed values are approximations. The exact values in Hz can be shown on the display (to display this value use the FUNCTION button as described in Chapter 2).

SPEED switch position

Rotational speed(rads-1) (rpm) (Hz)

1 2.09 20 0.33

2 3.67 35 0.58

3 6.39 61 1.02

4 11.21 107 1.78

5 19.58 187 3.12

6 34.24 327 5.45

7 59.90 572 9.53

8 104.72 1000 16.67

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Page 3-4 MAN 0378


Choosing a measurement system

Eight different systems (combinations) are available for the cup and bob and for the cone and plate/parallel plate measuring systems. The tables in Chapter 2 give the main settings to use for each type of measuring system and these are summarised in a single table below. For example, select System 2 if planning to use the 25mm inner cylinder and 27.5mm outer cylinder while using the default constant set, 1.

The measuring system to use will depend on the sample. Once this is known, select the appropriate System setting using the SYSTEM switch. The number on the vis-cometer’s display (between 1 and 8) indicates the system chosen.

Caution!Take special care when handling measuring systems. Attach and remove them carefully. Return them to the storage case when not in use.

Measuring system combinations

This table shows all the combinations of SYSTEM switch setting and constant set (1 to 8) used for any measuring system setup. Details of how to change the constant set are given in Chapter 4, though there should be no need to change from set 1, the default, for cup and bob. For cone and plate/parallel plate measuring systems, use set 5.

System Set 1 Set 2 Set 3 Set 4 Set 5 Set 6 Set 7 Set 8

1 C14 DIN

C14 DIN

C14 DIN

C14 DIN

PP15 0.5mm

PP15 0.5mm

C14 DIN

C14 DIN

2 C25 DIN

C25 DIN

C25 DIN

C25 DIN

PP30 0.5mm

PP30 0.5mm

C25 DIN

C25 DIN

3 C30 DIN

C30 DIN

C30 DIN

C30 DIN

PP15 1mm

PP15 1mm

C30 DIN

C30 DIN

4 C14 IS DG C14 IS

C14 IS

PP30 1mm

PP30 1mm

DG DG

5 C25 IS CP2.5°/15

C25 IS

C25 IS

PP15 2mm

PP15 2mm

CP5.4°/15

CP5.4°/15

6 C30 IS CP2.5°/30

C30 IS

C30 IS

PP30 2mm

PP30 2mm

CP5.4°/30

CP5.4°/30

7 C14 WG

CP5.4°/15

PP15 1mm

DG CP5.4°/15

CP5.4°/15

PP15 1mm

PP15 1mm

8 C25 WG

CP5.4°/30

PP30 1mm

C25 WG

CP5.4°/30

CP5.4°/30

PP30 1mm

PP30 1mm

Visco 88 Page 3-5


In this table:

DIN – these have the 1:1.1 ratio between cup and bob described in Chapter 2.

Cxx – a cylindrical measuring system of diameter xx mm. For example, C14 is a 14mm cylinder. For DIN standards, a matching cup and bob pair is used, for example a 27.5mm cup with 25mm bob.

IS (Infinite Sea) – here no outer cylinder is used; the upper measuring system is simply dipped into the sample container.

WG (Wide Gap) – here a smaller bob is used inside a larger cup, for example a 14mm bob inside a 25mm cup.

DG – Double Gap measuring system.

CPyy/xx – a cone and plate measuring system of cone angle yy degrees and diameter xx mm. The gap to use is:

1° cone – 0.03mm (30µm).

2.5° cone – 0.07mm (70µm).

5.4° cone – 0.15mm (150µm).

PPxx – a parallel plate of diameter xx mm. The dimension x mm on the line below the PP entry is the required gap: 0.5mm, 1mm or 2mm.

Starch option

The starch option provides an elongated (95mm) double gap measuring system for measuring starch samples. When this is used, the following applies:

Speed setting 5 delivers 15.7 rad-1/150rpm/2.5Hz and = 164s-1.

The Set 1/System 7 combination is for use with the 95mm double gap measur-ing system. For this setup, constant C1 is 4167Pa/Nm and C2 is 10.461 rad-1.

NoteIf measuring very low viscosity samples, before loading the measuring sys-tem check whether the residual torque needs adjusting. This procedure is described in Chapter 4.

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Page 3-6 MAN 0378


Fitting and loading the cup and bob

For a cup and bob system proceed as described here.

To insert the upper measurement system in the viscometer:

1. Lift the chuck slightly upwards and hold it there.

2. Push the shaft of the bob up into the chuck carefully until it clicks into place.

3. Release the chuck and pull the shaft down a few mm. It should slide down then click into position. If it does not, turn the measuring system slightly and repeat.

4. Pour into the cup the volume of sample shown in the final column of the table in Chapter 2. Hold the cup so that the vertical cutouts in the top are at the front and back as shown below:

ill 7745

5. Gently raise the cup onto the instrument then turn it anti-clockwise about half a turn to lock it in place. Pull gently downwards to check it’s held firm.

6. The correct sample volume is when the temperature probe reaches about 5mm into the sample. Looking through the access window, ensure that the tempera-ture sensor is dipping about 5mm into the sample. If it’s not, add more sample.

If necessary, the cup can be filled until the sample runs out of the access win-dows, then this spillage wiped away. Remove any excess sample through the access window using a dropper pipette.

Now proceed to optimise the measurement system.

Visco 88 Page 3-7


Fitting and loading plate systems

If using a cup and bob measuring system, skip this section.

To insert the upper measurement system in the viscometer:

1. Lift the chuck slightly upwards and hold it there.

2. Push the shaft of the cone or upper plate up into the chuck carefully until it clicks into place.

3. Release the chuck then pull the shaft down a few mm. It should slide down then click into position. If not, turn the measuring system slightly and repeat.

Setting the correct gap

For cone and plate/parallel plates, use of the correct gap between the measuring sys-tems is crucial. An incorrect gap will lead to errors in the results, especially with small gaps or small cone angles.

Set up the supplied cones with gaps as follows:

1° cone – with a gap of 0.03mm (30µm).

2.5° cone – with a gap of 0.07mm (70µm).

5.4° cone – with a gap of 0.15mm (150µm).

To set the gap for a cone manually:

1. If it’s not already fitted, fit the lower plate system onto the viscometer stand below the viscometer and clamp it tightly (by hand only).

2. If the lock nut on the gap adjustment screw is at the top of its thread, loosen it so it moves downwards a few turns. Adjust the gap adjustment screw upwards until about 10mm of it protrudes above the collar, like this:

ill 7446

Page 3-8 MAN 0378


3. While supporting the viscometer’s weight, loosen the viscometer clamp. Ease it down until the top of the gap adjustment screw fits into the hole in the vis-cometer clamp.

At this stage the gap between the measuring systems should be about 5mm.

4. Slowly lower the measuring system by turning the adjustment knob on the bottom of the thread clockwise until the gap is almost touching the lower plate. (Turning this knob anti-clockwise increases the gap.)

5. Adjust this to give the required gap. “Zero in” on a feeler gauge of the correct size then remove the feeler gauge.

6. Hand tighten the lock nut so that the gap adjustment screw cannot move. Check the gap again with the feeler gauge and readjust if necessary.

Parallel plates

For parallel plates set a gap of 0.5mm, 1mm or 2mm, as given in the table in Chap-ter 2, using a feeler gauge of the appropriate size.

Other measuring systems

Cones of other angles should have certification showing the truncation height. Follow the above procedure with a feeler gauge of this size.

Other measuring systems will be supplied with specific gap setting instructions when purchased from Malvern Instruments.

Optimising the measurement system

This procedure checks that the measuring system is suitable for the viscosity of the sample loaded. It involves reading the torque value at the chosen rotational speed.

Note If the torque is below 0.5mNm, use a more sensitive measuring system (larger diameter/surface area) or choose a higher speed. If the torque is above 9.5mNm, use a less sensitive measuring system (smaller diameter/surface area) or choose a lower speed.

To optimise the measuring system:

1. If using cone and plate or parallel plates, lower the upper system until it stops at the set gap.

2. Press the START button to start the motor at the chosen speed.

3. Press the FUNCTION button until the torque, M, appears on the display.

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Visco 88 Page 3-9


4. Read the torque value and check that it is between 0.5mNm and 9.5mNm.

5. Press the START button to stop the motor.

Loading the sample

The correct amount of sample must be used. Overfilling or underfilling causes data errors.

Pour or apply the sample onto the lower plate, using approximately the correct vol-ume. It is normally easiest to overfill slightly then trim off any excess sample with a spatula after bringing the upper and lower measuring systems together (take care not to scratch the metal surfaces). For a cone load the sample as shown below:

ill 7747

Overfilled Correctly filled Underfilled

For a parallel plate aim for this situation:

ill 7748

Starting the measurement

It is now time to start the measurement.

To start the measurement:

1. Lower the measuring cylinder into the sample until it is submerged about 10mm below the surface of the sample. This positions the temperature sensor about 5mm into the sample.

2. Press the START button to start the motor. This starts the measurement.

3. During the measurement the measured data can be read on the display by pressing the FUNCTION button. Parameters to note include:

η = Viscosity (Pas)

= Shear rate (1/s, which can also be represented as s-1)

T = Temperature (°C)

Also note the torque, M, during measurements. This value should be between 0.5 and 9.5mNm.

γ.

Page 3-10 MAN 0378


Completing the measurement

When the measurement is complete follow the procedure for cleaning the viscom-eter and measuring systems given in Chapter 6. This is very important.

Closing down the viscometer

This assumes that the upper measuring system has already been removed as part of the cleaning procedure.

To close down the viscometer:

1. Switch off the Temperature Control Unit (TCU), if using one.

2. Switch off the viscometer using its ON/OFF button.

Visco 88 Page 3-11


Page 3-12 MAN 0378

4

Other tasks

Introduction

This chapter describes other tasks, as follows:

Adjusting the residual torque.

Reporting the residual torque.

Calculating rheological data.

Changing measuring system constants – how to change the constant set used.

Freezing the display.

Visco 88 Page 4-1

Chapter 4 Other tasks4
Adjusting the residual torque
Residual torque adjustment calculates the compensation needed to take account of residual torque when at rest. Follow these guidelines:

Adjust the residual torque when the instrument is at rest before making the first measurement after installation. After this we recommend repeating the process at the start of each week.

Just before measuring any very low viscosity material, check whether it’s neces-sary to repeat the adjustment.

To check whether adjustment is needed:

1. Before any measuring system is attached, press the START button to start the motor. (The SYSTEM switch can be in any position.)

2. Press the FUNCTION button until the torque value, M (mNm), appears on the display.

3. Run the motor for about 30 seconds. Turn the SPEED switch and read the torque at speeds 1 to 4. If the torque value of any of the four lowest speeds is greater than 0.01mNm, residual torque adjustment as described below is needed.


To adjust residual torque:

1. With no measuring system attached, press the START button with the SPEED and SYSTEM switches in any position. If the motor is cold, let it run for about 30 seconds.


3. Press the FUNCTION button until Cal appears on the display.

4. Hold the CAL button down until the motor starts.

The adjustment is performed automatically for all eight speeds, starting with the highest.

NoteIf the display shows tRAP (trap), turn the instrument off. Check that it is vertical and that the AC adapter is connected, then power it on again.

If tRAP reappears a second time after this, contact Malvern Instruments.

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Page 4-2 MAN 0378

Other tasks Chapter 4

Reporting the residual torque

Only do this if you think there is something wrong with the motor. For example, if there is any defect in the motor bearings this procedure can control the residual torque of the motor.

Perform the following procedure with no measuring system attached.

To report the residual torque:

1. Turn off the power using the ON/OFF button.

2. Set the SYSTEM switch to position 8. (The SPEED switch can be in any position.)

3. Simultaneously hold down the START button and press the ON/OFF button to switch the power on.

4. Release the START button when tESt appears on the display. The text init then appears on the display.

5. When the text init disappears and OFF appears on the display, turn the power off using the ON/OFF button.

6. Press the FUNCTION button until the residual torque, M, is shown.

7. If the residual torque is high (greater than l mNm) this indicates a defect; con-tact Malvern Instruments.

Visco 88 Page 4-3

Chapter 4 Other tasks

Calculating rheological data

Using the rotational speed V (rpm), the torque M (mNm) and the measuring sys-tem constants, the shear stress, shear rate and viscosity can be calculated as follows:

Shear stress (Pa): τ = Cl * M

Shear rate (s-1): = C2 * V (where V = f(Hz) x 2π)

Viscosity (Pas): η = τ /

The Cl and C2 measuring system values for constant set 1 are listed below:

NoteThe rad-1 units are displayed as rad/s in the software.

When parallel plates are used:

For constant sets 6 and 8 constants quote the shear stress at the perimeter.

For constant sets 3, 5 and 7 constants quote the shear stress at the 3/4 radius.

Changing measuring system constants

The instrument is programmed to use a set of constants. This enables the instru-ment to be run using any measuring system, for example a double gap system, without the need for special software.

There should be no need to change from set 1, the default, for cup and bob. For cone and plate/parallel plate measuring systems, use set 5.

Label Measuring system C1 (Pa/mNm) C2 (rad-1)

C14 DIN 1 15470 11.526

C25 DIN 2 27160 11.526

C30 DIN 3 15720 11.526

C14 infinite sea 4 15470 1.996



C14 wide gap 7 15470 2.435

C25 wide gap 8 27160 4.698

γ.

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Other tasks Chapter 4

To change the current set of measuring constants:

1. Turn off the instrument.

2. Turn the SYSTEM switch to position 2.

3. Turn the SPEED switch to the set of measuring systems to use. (Position 1 selects set 1, position 2 selects set 2, etc.).

4. Press the START button and hold it down.

5. Switch on the power. The LCD will read '----' at first, then after two seconds display tESt.

6. Release the START button. The display will show which set of constants is selected (Set.n where n is 1 to 8) for a couple of seconds and will then go into normal measuring mode. For example, the second set would be displayed as Set.2.

7. The set selection is stored while the instrument is powered off. The current set is indicated by a small number from 1 to 8 at the bottom of the display.

Freezing the display

The last measured value can be 'frozen' by pressing the CAL button. To do this, the motor must be running and the viscometer must be under front panel control (not software control).

In Freeze mode the mode indicator flashes. Once the current measurement has been frozen, the display can be stepped as usual with the FUNCTION button to display any of the measuring points at the time when the CAL button was pressed.

To return to the normal display updates, press CAL again. (Freeze mode is also terminated if any of the SPEED or SYSTEM selectors are changed or the motor is stopped).

NoteDo not press CAL immediately after changing the speed (i.e. when the LCD reads '----') as a few seconds are necessary for Freeze mode to become active.

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Chapter 4 Other tasks

Page 4-6 MAN 0378

5

Using the Bohlin software

Introduction

This chapter describes how to use the instrument with the Bohlin software run on a connected computer. In this situation the viscometer is controlled by the software and not its front panel controls.

The chapter covers:

About the software – what it calculates.

Installing the software.

Connecting to the computer.

Getting started.

Making a measurement.

Evaluating results.

Closing down the software.

Setting up users.

Visco 88 Page 5-1

Chapter 5 Using the Bohlin software5
About the software
The Bohlin software is run on a computer connected to the instrument. The soft-ware uses the same parameters as shown on the instrument display, namely:

Torque (in mNm).

Shear rate (s-1, shown as “1/s” in the software displays).

Shear stress (Pa).

Viscosity (Pa s).

Temperature (°C).

Rotational speed (rad-1, shown as “1/rad” in software displays).

Optional integrated data processing software is available for applying QC pass/fail criteria and fitting rheological models (Bingham, Casson, Herschel Bulkey, etc.).

Installing the software

To install the software on the computer:

1. Insert the new Bohlin CD in the CD drive.

2. If Autorun is enabled on the computer the software will start to install auto-matically. Follow all on-screen instructions to complete the installation.

3. If Autorun is not enabled select Start-Run-Setup.exe and follow the on-screen instructions.

Connecting to the computer

Connect the supplied cable from the RS232 connector under the flap on the back of the viscometer to a serial port on the computer. Chapter 3 has details.

Getting started

Follow this procedure in full.

To start up the system:

1. Unless using the battery, plug the AC adapter into the AC power supply and the other end of the power cable into the instrument. If using the instrument as a portable unit, ensure that the batteries are charged. (If not the display con-tinues to show Low bat beyond the initial power on period.)

Page 5-2 MAN 0378

Using the Bohlin software Chapter 5

2. Press the instrument’s ON/OFF button to switch the power on. The display will show OFF, indicating that the motor is not running initially.

3. Switch on the computer then double-click the Bohlin icon to start the software.

4. In this User login dialogue select Visco 88 and click OK (omit the name and password):

5. In the next dialogue displayed, click the VISCOMETRY button to open this control dialogue:

This is used to control the viscometer.

Visco 88 Page 5-3

Chapter 5 Using the Bohlin software

NoteThe buttons in this dialogue replace the controls on the instrument itself (except for the ON/OFF button) but there is no direct correlation between buttons in the software and those on the viscometer front panel. The software operates in a far more complex way and the user must read its online help before starting to use it.

6. If the computer and instrument are communicating correctly, the display on the instrument shows OK as shown below:

ill 7724

7. If this is not displayed, use Options-Instrument Serial Port to open this dia-logue for checking the COM port setting on the computer:

Select the correct port in the list and select the Restart Communications check box. Click the OK button. The text OK should now appear in the vis-cometer’s display.

8. The instrument is now ready to use.

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OFF1 OK

Page 5-4 MAN 0378



Either set up the required test parameters one by one (use the online help for details on these) or open a pre-defined test as described here. This sequence uses the PAINTFLO test supplied by Malvern Instruments. This is a good general pur-pose test and not just for use with paints. Other tests can be selected as required.

To make the measurement:

1. Select File-Open parameters to select a file from the following folder:

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Bohlin\ Rotational\Examples

NoteThe Application Data folder may be hidden from view. To see it select Tools-Folder Options-View then Show Hidden.

2. Open the file PAINTFLO (its suffix is .P8W). This is designed to use a CP2.5°/30 system.

3. Unless CP2.5°/30 is the system required, click the SELECT button in the Measuring System box to open this dialogue:

Select the required measuring system and click OK.

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Visco 88 Page 5-5


NoteIf required, the test can be loaded then modified and saved with a new name.

4. Load the sample (see Chapter 3).

5. Press the viscometer’s START button to start the motor. This begins the measurement.

6. During the measurement, data is displayed in the Measured Values panel:

To stop the measurement at any time click the Abort Test button.

7. When the measurement ends the data can be analysed further as described in the online help.

8. Click on File-Save As and enter a name for the file which will hold the results. (If the file already exists a message appears allowing the user to overwrite it or supply a new file name.)

9. To obtain a table of results, connect a printer. Select File-Print or, to obtain a graphical printout of the data, File-Plot.

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Page 5-6 MAN 0378


Evaluating results

The results can be evaluated in different ways. Flow curves and viscosity curves are two possibilities:

Flow curve Viscosity curve

By making a constant shear rate measurement, the temperature and time depend-ency of the viscosity can also be tested.

The software allows the user to compare data, fit models and perform many other functions with the data. For more information, refer to the online help.

Closing down the system

When the measurement is complete follow the procedure for cleaning the viscom-eter and measuring systems given in Chapter 6. This is very important.

To close down the viscometer:

1. Switch off the TCU, if using one.

2. Select File-Exit (or press Alt-F4) to quit the software.

3. Switch off the viscometer using its ON/OFF button.

4. Switch off the computer.

Setting up users

The supervisor should set up users. To do this:

1. Log on as SUPERVISOR (by default there’s no password).

2. Select Supervisor-User Configuration to open the USER CONFIGURA-TION dialogue. Click its Add button to open this dialogue:

Visco 88 Page 5-7


3. Type in the user’s login name and click the OK button.

4. The USER CONFIGURATION dialogue shows the new name. In the Login Entries panel, type in the user’s full name and the password they will log in with:

5. Select the Test Control Options check box for each permission the user is to be given then click OK.

Page 5-8 MAN 0378

6

Maintenance and troubleshooting

Introduction

This chapter describes maintenance and fault finding procedures.

Visco 88 Page 6-1

Chapter 6 Maintenance and troubleshooting6
Maintenance
Follow the maintenance precautions listed below. Perform these tasks regularly and at least within the periods given:

Before use

Make sure that the measuring systems are clean and free from scratches. Never try to attach or use any measuring system which has visible damage.

Caution!Take great care when handling measuring systems. Attach and remove them carefully. Return them to the storage case when not in use.

After making a measurement

When the measurement is over:

1. Press the START button to stop the motor. If all measurements are complete switch the instrument off.

2. Lift the upper measuring system clear of the lower one. If the sample is very stiff or 'stringy', undo the upper measuring system before lifting the viscometer out of its clamp. This leaves the upper and lower measuring systems behind and both can be removed together.

3. Lift the viscometer and remove the measuring systems. Clean the viscometer covers, stand and base plate with soapy water.

Caution!Do not use excessive amounts of water and take care near the front panel, rear connection panel, etc.

Frequency Task

Weekly Check the fluid level of the Temperature Control Unit (TCU). Top this up if required.

Monthly Run a calibration reference sample (oil) to confirm that the vis-cometer is still within calibration.

Yearly Arrange a service visit by a Malvern Instruments representative.

Page 6-2 MAN 0378

Maintenance and troubleshooting Chapter 6

4. Use isopropyl alcohol to clean the measuring systems and temperature sensor. Some measuring systems can be taken apart. Pay special attention to cleaning the threads on these.

Caution!Cleaning is important as samples left behind may attack the measuring sys-tem surfaces. Do not use abrasive or sharp implements since these may scratch or pit the surface.

5. Check the measuring systems for damage. Any visible scratches, etc. may cause erroneous measurements.

Caution!Make sure any O rings on measuring systems are not displaced from their recesses.

Visco 88 Page 6-3

Chapter 6 Maintenance and troubleshooting

Fault finding

Work through this fault finding list if any problems occur. Look for a matching symptom description and then check for possible causes.

Caution!Do not try to disassemble or modify the instrument in any way not described in this manual. It may damage the instrument or disturb its cali-bration. This may cause a malfunction and the need for service. This may invalidate the guarantees and warranty.

Lack of power

Check that the mains power is switched on and the AC adapter lead is plugged into the back of the viscometer.

Check that the unit is switched on.

If operating without the mains power, check that the battery is fully charged.

Check that any fuses are functioning.

All measured values show zero

Ensure the mains power is connected.

The viscometer has a fault – contact Malvern Instruments.

Upper measurement system not rotating

Cables are not connected securely.

Faulty drive motor – contact Malvern Instruments.

Faulty electronics – contact Malvern Instruments.

Rotation but no recorded deflection

If LO is shown on the display the sample viscosity is too low for the measuring system and shear rate. Use a geometry with a larger surface area.

Possible fault in electronics – contact Malvern Instruments.

Page 6-4 MAN 0378

Maintenance and troubleshooting Chapter 6

Spurious or erratic results

Measuring system incorrectly installed – remove and reinstall it.

Wrong measuring system selected in the software – check the setting.

Wrong temperature displayed

If using a cup and bob, check that the temperature probe is submerged about 5mm into the sample. If the temperature shown is obviously wrong, the temperature card may be faulty; contact Malvern Instruments.

If using a cone and plate/parallel plates, use the value displayed by the TCU itself. (With these measuring systems the temperature probe cannot measure the sample.)

Irregular temperature readings

These may be caused by disturbances from the mains power – check the mains power is not affected by transient currents or varying voltages and/or frequencies.

Visco 88 Page 6-5

Chapter 6 Maintenance and troubleshooting

Page 6-6 MAN 0378

Part 2 - Appendices

A

Health and safety

General warnings

General warnings and safety regulations

Warning!The instrument or the samples to be measured may be hazardous if mis-used. Read and fully understand this section before operating the system.

Warning!Use of the system in a manner not specified by Malvern Instruments may impair the protection provided by the system.

The instrument must only be stored or operated in environmental conditions con-forming to the specification in Site requirements, Appendix C.

Electrical warnings and safety regulations

Warning!Only Malvern Instruments trained personnel are permitted to remove the main cover of the viscometer.

Warning!Do not place cables where they are likely to become wet.

Visco 88 Page A-1

Appendix A Health and safetyA
Power safety
The notes in this section indicate best practice and should be adhered to when con-necting the instrument to the power supply.

Power safety information

The following notes indicate guidelines to follow when connecting the Malvern Instruments power supply using single and multiple extension leads, connection via AC Adapters and use of Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS).

Warning!To prevent electric shock, plug the instrument into correctly earthed elec-trical outlets.

The power cord supplied is equipped with a grounding connection to ensure grounding integrity is maintained.

Advice on use of Extension leads

Follow this advice when using single or multiple socket extension leads. These are also called “trailing sockets”.

Ensure the lead is connected to a wall power outlet and not to another exten-sion lead. The extension lead must be designed for grounding plugs and plugged into a grounded wall outlet.

Ensure that the total ampere rating of the products being plugged into the extension lead does not exceed the ampere rating of the extension lead.

Use caution when plugging a power cord into a multiple socket extension lead. Some extension leads may allow a plug to be inserted incorrectly.

Incorrect insertion of the power plug could result in permanent damage to the instrument, as well as risk of electric shock and/or fire. Ensure that the ground connection (prong/pin) of the power cord plug is inserted into the mating ground contact of the extension lead

Advice on use of AC adapters

Follow this advice when using AC adapters:

Warning!Do not use adapter plugs that bypass the grounding feature, or remove the grounding feature from the plug or adapter.

Page A-2 MAN 0378

Health and safety Appendix A

Use only the Malvern-provided AC adapter approved for use with the instru-ment. Use of another AC adapter may cause a fire or explosion.

Place the AC adapter in a ventilated area such as a desk top or on the floor.

The AC adapter may become hot during normal operation of the instrument. Use care when handling the adapter during or immediately after operation.

Advice on use of Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS)

To help protect the instrument from sudden, transient increases and decreases in electrical power, use a surge suppressor, line conditioner or UPS.

Sample handling warnings

Always handle substances in accordance with the COSHH (Control Of Sub-stances Hazardous to Health) regulations (UK) or any local regulations con-cerning sample handling safety.

Before using any substance, check the Material Safety Data Sheets for safe han-dling information.

Use the instrument in a well ventilated room, or preferably a fume cupboard, if the fumes from the sample are toxic or noxious.

Wear personal protective equipment as recommended by the Material Safety Data Sheets if toxic or hazardous sample are being handled, particularly during sample preparation and measurement.

Wear protective gloves when handling hazardous materials, or those that cause skin infections or irritations.

Do not smoke during measurement procedures, particularly where inflamma-ble samples are used or stored.

Do not eat or drink during measurement procedures, particularly where haz-ardous samples are used or stored.

Take care when handling glass (e.g. beakers). Hazardous materials may enter a wound caused by broken glass.

Always test a new sample for chemical compatibility before use.

After measuring hazardous samples, scrupulously clean the system to remove any contaminants before making another measurement.

Always label samples for analysis using industry standard labelling, particularly if they are handled by a number of staff or stored for long periods. Clearly mark any operator hazard and associated safety precautions that are required for the handling of dangerous materials.

Visco 88 Page A-3

Appendix A Health and safety

Keep a record of all hazardous substances used in the system for protection of service and maintenance personnel.

Always adopt responsible procedures for the disposal of waste samples. Most local laws forbid the disposal of many chemicals in such a manner as to allow their entry into the water system. Seek local advice on the means available for disposal of chemical wastes in the area of use. Refer to the Materials Safety Data Sheets.

Disposing of the instrument

When the need eventually arises to dispose of the system, it should be done so in a responsible manner. The following are guidelines that should be followed.

Refer to any local regulations on disposal of equipment; in Europe refer to the information below.

Seek advice from the local Malvern Instruments representative for details.

Decontaminate the instrument if hazardous materials have been used in it.

Disposal of Electrical & Electronic Equipment

(Applicable in the European Union and other European countries

with separate collection systems)

ill 7610

This symbol on the product or on its packaging indicates that when the last user wishes to discard this product it must not be treated as general waste. Instead it shall be handed over to the appropriate facility for the recovery and recycling of electrical and electronic equipment.

Page A-4 MAN 0378

Health and safety Appendix A

By not discarding this product along with other household-type waste, the volume of waste sent to incinerators or landfills will be reduced and natural resources will be conserved.

For more detailed information about recycling of this product, please contact your local city office, your waste disposal service, or your Malvern Instruments repre-sentative.

Visco 88 Page A-5

Appendix A Health and safety

Page A-6 MAN 0378

B

Specification

Dimensions (including stand)

Other parameters

Height 56cm

Depth 24.5cm

Width 23cm

Weight 5kg

Measuring system DIN 53019

"Infinite sea"

"Wide gap"

C14, C25, C30

C14, C25, C30

C14, C25

Cones 1°, 2.5° or 5.4° angle

15mm or 30mm diameter

Parallel plates 15mm, 30mm

Accumulator capacity 1.5 to 8 hours

Serial interface RS232

Analog output (BNC) 0-1 V

Power consumption Maximum 4W

Visco 88 Page B-1

Appendix B SpecificationB
Measuring mode ranges
The mode is the variable whose numeric value is shown on the display. The ranges for these are as follows:

Notes:

1. Depending on the selected speed and measuring system.

2. Calculated using formulae for Newtonian liquids.

3. Measurement out of range and too low is indicated by LO on the display.

4. Measurement out of range and too high is indicated by HI on the display.

5. Measurements made when the shear rate is too low are indicated with OFLO on the display.

Temperature control

The temperature control options have the following temperature ranges:

Standard fluids jacket: 40°C to +250°C

Starch option: +5°C to 95°C

Display Mode Units Measured rangeNote (see

below)

η Viscosity Pas 0.006 - 350 1,2,3,4,5

Shear rate 1/s, s-1 4 - 1,200 1,2,3

τ Shear stress Pa 8 - 1,500 1,2,4

T Temperature ºC 0 - 100 4

M Torque mNm 0 - 10 4

f Frequency Hz 0.33 - 16.7 (rotational speed/60)

3

γ.

Page B-2 MAN 0378

C

Site requirements

Appendix C of the Visco 88 User Manual MAN 0378 Issue 1.0

Visco 88 Page C-1

C

© Malvern Instruments Ltd. 2006

Malvern Instruments makes every effort to ensure that this document is correct. However, due to Malvern Instruments’ policy of continual product development we are unable to guarantee the accuracy of this, or any other document after the date of publication. We therefore disclaim all liability for any changes, errors or omissions after the date of publication. No reproduction or transmission of any part of this publication is allowed without the express written permission of Malvern Instruments Ltd.

Head office:

Malvern Instruments Ltd.Enigma Business Park,Grovewood Road,Malvern,Worcestershire WR14 1XZUnited Kingdom

Tel + [44] (0)1684-892456Fax + [44] (0)1684-892789

Windows 2000 and XP are registered trademarks of the Microsoft Corporation.

Visco 88 is a registered trademark of Malvern Instruments.

Printed in England

Site requirements Appendix C

Introduction

This document outlines all site requirements needed to install a viscometer. Refer-ences to the computer only apply if the Bohlin software is to be run on a computer attached to the viscometer. If the viscometer is to be used standalone, no computer is required.

Environmental conditions

When choosing a site for the system, ensure that the following environmental con-ditions are satisfied:

Position the instrument away from strong heat sources (e.g. radiators).

Any bench that carries the system must be horizontal and vibration free. It must also be capable of supporting the weight of the system. This table lists the weights of the system components:

Avoid passing electrical cables through areas where liquids can be spilt.

Rooms must be well ventilated if noxious samples or dispersants are used.

Warning!Do not position the system so power sockets are obstructed. They may need to be disconnected during an emergency.

The system is designed to be stored and operated in the following conditions:

Component Weight

Viscometer alone 1.2kg

Viscometer with stand 5kg

Operating temperature +10 to +35°C (+50 to 95°F)

Storage temperature -20 to +50°C (-104 to +122°F)

Humidity 10 to 90% (non-condensing)

Altitude Up to 2000m

Pollution degree 2

Mains supply voltage fluctuations

±10% of nominal voltage

Visco 88 Page C-3

Appendix C Site requirements

Storage

Store the viscometer in a dry place. Store all measuring systems in the case pro-vided.

Space required

Provide enough space to allow easy access to the system.

If using the viscometer on its stand, allow 230mm (width) x 245mm (depth) of bench space. Allow at least 700mm above the bench surface for easy access to the instrument.

Power requirements

When mains rather than battery power is used, the mains power supply must be clean and filtered. If necessary, fit an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) to remove any spikes or noise.

The mains power requirement is given below.

Component Power requirement Power sockets

required

Viscometer ~ 100-240V, 50-60Hz 1

Computer See manufacturer’s documentation 1

Page C-4 MAN 0378

D

Regulatory statements

EMC

Visco 88 Page D-1

Appendix D Regulatory statementsD

Page D-2 MAN 0378

Index

A

AC adapter 3-3AC adapter safety A-2Adjusting residual torque 4-2Analogue output 2-10Assembling the instrument 3-2

B

Battery operation 2-4, 2-11

C

CAL button 2-3, 4-2, 4-5Calculating rheological data 4-4Changing measuring system constants 4-4Choosing a rotational speed 3-4Chuck 2-3Clean-up procedure 6-2Closing down 3-11, 5-7Coaxial cylinder. See Cup and bobCOM port setting 5-4Completing the measurement 3-11Computer connection 5-2Cone and plate

constants to use 4-4described 2-6fitting and loading 3-8

Conesgaps to use 3-8

Connecting to computer 5-2Connections 2-10Connectors 3-3Constant sets 4-4

changing 4-4summary table 3-5

COSHH A-3Cup and bob

constants to use 4-4described 2-5fitting and loading 3-7

D

DIN53019 2-6Display

described 2-4freezing 4-5showing computer connected OK 5-4

Disposing of instrument A-4

E

Electrical warnings A-1EMC declaration D-1Environmental conditions C-3Erratic results 6-5Extension lead safety A-2

F

Fault finding 6-4Freeze mode 4-5Freezing the display 4-5FUNCTION button 2-3, 2-4, 3-10

G

Gap adjustment screw 3-8Gap setting 3-8

H

Health and safety A-1HI shown on display 2-4, B-2

I

Infinite sea 2-6, 3-6Installing the software 5-2

K

Key components 2-2

L

LO shown on display 2-4, 6-4, B-2Loading the sample 3-10Low bat on display 2-4

Visco 88 Page i

Index Visco 88

Low viscosity samples 3-6

M

Maintenance 6-2Making a measurement

software 5-5Measurement system

optimising 3-9selecting 3-5

Measuring mode ranges B-2Measuring system combinations

cup and bob 2-5plate systems 2-8summary 3-5

Measuring systemscleaning 6-3if damaged 6-2two types 2-5

N

Newtonian liquids 2-2No rotation 6-4Non-Newtonian liquids 2-2

O

O rings 6-3OFLO shown on display B-2ON/OFF button 2-3Operating principles 2-2Operating temperature C-3Optimising measurement system 3-9

P

PAINTFLO test 5-5Parallel plates

constants to use 4-4described 2-6fitting and loading 3-8gaps to use 3-9

Power lacking 6-4Power requirements C-4Power safety information A-2Power supply 2-11PSU input 2-10PT100 2-3

R

Reporting residual motor torque 4-3Residual torque

adjustment 3-6Residual torque adjustment 4-2Residual torque high 4-3Rheological data

calculating 4-4Rotation but no recorded deflection 6-4Rotational speed 5-2Rotational speed selection 3-4RS232 connector 2-10, 5-2

S

Safetysubstances A-3

Safety regulations A-1Sample

loading 3-10very low viscosity 3-6

Sample handling warnings A-3Set. See Constant set 3-5Setting up users 5-7Shear rate 4-4, 5-2Shear stress 4-4, 5-2Software

installing 5-2Software results 5-7Software use 5-1Space required C-4Specification B-1, C-1SPEED switch 2-3, 3-4, 4-5Starch option 3-6START button 2-3Starting the measurement 3-10Starting up with software 5-2SYSTEM switch 2-3, 2-5, 2-8, 3-5, 4-5

T

Temperature controldescription 2-9ranges B-2

Temperature irregular 6-5Temperature sensor 2-3Temperature wrong 6-5Thermal jacket 2-9Torque 3-9, 4-2, 4-3, 5-2

Page ii MAN 0378

Visco 88 Index

tRAP on display 4-2Troubleshooting 6-4

U

Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) safety A-3User login screen 5-3User setup (software only) 5-7

V

Values show zero 6-4VISCOMETRY button 5-3Viscosity 4-4, 5-2

Viscosity curve 5-7

W

Warningssample handling A-3

Weight C-3Wide gap 2-6, 2-9, 3-6Wrong temperature displayed 6-5

Z

Zero values 6-4

Visco 88 Page iii

Index Visco 88

Page iv Visco 88

MAN0378-1.0 Visco 88 User Manual

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Transcript of MAN0378-1.0 Visco 88 User Manual