Article: What is Viscosity?

Viscosity is a principal parameter when any flow measurements of fluids, such as liquids, semi-solids, gases and even solids are made. Brookfield deals with liquids and semi-solids. Viscosity measurements are made in conjunction with product quality and efficiency. Anyone involved with flow characterization, in research or development, quality control or fluid transfer, at one time or another gets involved with some type of viscosity measurement.

Many manufacturers now regard viscometers as a crucial part of their research, development, and process control programs. They know that viscosity measurements are often the quickest, most accurate and most reliable way to analyze some of the most important factors affecting product performance.

Rheological relationships help us to understand the fluids we are working with so that we can either know how they are behaving or force them to behave according to our needs.

There are many different techniques for measuring viscosity, each suitable to specific circumstances and materials. The selection of the right viscometer from the scores of instruments available to meet the need of any application is a difficult proposition. Today's instruments vary from the simple to the complex: from counting the seconds for a liquid to drain off a stick to very sophisticated automatic recording and controlling equipment. This places the instrument user in a position in which his own appreciation of the flow phenomena involved, coupled with the instrument manufacturer's "know how and experience", must be brought to bear.

Brookfield Engineering Laboratories for over 75 years has been a pioneer in the development of instrumentation for viscosity measurement and data handling and a stimulus to the development of the science. We have the requisite "know how and experience" to be your partner in the selection of proper instrumentation to control your process.