High Shear Viscosity Measurements Utilizing Inks

The viscosity of inks is a key parameter affecting ink droplet formation and the quality of a printout. Inks for inkjet printing are exposed to shear rates well above 100,000 s^-1 and can shear thin at these high deformation rates. Hence, it is important to measure their shear viscosity for a wide range of shear rates to appropriately predict their behavior in the ink jetting process.

In this demo, we show how you can measure the viscosity of ink samples with the m-VROC^® II semi-automated, small sample viscometer for shear rates up to and well above 100,000 s^-1. RheoSense microfluidic MEMS technology is based on the first principle and provides you with the true dynamic viscosity of your samples for all shear rates measured. The built-in Peltier temperature control allows you to precisely and quickly tune the temperature based on the ink’s application. In addition, we show how you can seamlessly swap out chips and clean them with the automated chip cleaning station, which can allow you to obtain measurements without interruptions.