A Novel High-Throughput Viscometer.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Chemical Engineering
• Rheology

Background:

• Accurate viscosity measurement is crucial for material characterization and formulation development.
• Existing methods can be time-consuming, require large sample volumes, or involve complex procedures.
• High-throughput screening is essential for modern formulation workflows.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a novel, rapid, parallel, and high-throughput system for viscosity measurement.
• To implement a mass- and pressure-based viscosity measurement concept using transient fluid flow.
• To demonstrate the system's utility for complex fluids in various microtiter plate formats.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing the transient flow of complex fluids through pipettes.
• Employing a combination of experimental observations and numerical/analytical modeling.
• Analyzing data-rich pressure profiles generated during fluid flow.

Main Results:

• Developed a robust viscosity estimation tool with significant practical advantages over microfluidic devices.
• Achieved high throughput (<1 hour for 100 samples) with small sample volumes (<1 mL).
• Successfully screened viscosity for diverse complex fluids including oils, paints, solvents, and detergents.

Conclusions:

• The developed system offers a rapid, parallel, and efficient approach for viscosity screening.
• The mass- and pressure-based method is well-suited for high-throughput formulation workflows.
• The system demonstrates versatility and effectiveness across a range of complex fluids.