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Measurement of Viscosity of Aqueous Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) Solutions by Capillary Viscometer (CAT#: STEM-PPA-0007-YJL)

Introduction

The different polymers are widely used in many different applications (e.g. cosmetics and personal care products and they are essential components of drug delivery vehicles). Macromolecules can exist in practically unlimited number of conformations in their dissolved state. Linear polymers can be envisioned as chain-like molecules. These molecules are comprised of so-called segments – short sections of the macromolecule that move together thermally in solutions.<br />A polymer’s properties and performance are influenced by its molecular weight and distribution. Its molecular weight can be measured by viscosity. Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), an industrially important polymer, has unique solubility properties, dissolving in water in all proportions at moderate temperatures and in a very wide range of degrees of polymerization.




Principle

A capillary viscometer is an instrument used to measure the viscosity, or thickness, of a liquid by measuring how long it takes the liquid to flow through a small-diameter tube, or capillary. The flow, or efflux, time is directly proportional to the liquid's kinematic viscosity, and may be converted directly to viscosity by use of a conversion factor unique to each instrument. Viscosity is generally temperature dependent, so the capillary viscometer is usually used in a controlled-temperature water bath set to a specific temperature.
The capillary method is used to determine the viscosity of a Newtonian fluid (a liquid with a viscosity independent of the shearing stress or rate of shear). Capillary viscometer calculations are performed using suspended level capillary viscometers and Ostwald-type capillary viscometers.

Applications

Mineral oil industry; Food industry; Cosmetic/pharmaceutical industry; Petroleum industry

Procedure

1. Select the capillary viscometer and load the sample.
2. Adjust the bath temperature.
3. Determine the efflux time of the sample.

Materials

• Sample Type: Newtonian fluid