Keywords
Citation
(2001), "Smart software for smart rheometer", Industrial Lubrication and Tribology, Vol. 53 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/ilt.2001.01853dad.002
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2001, MCB UP Limited
Smart software for smart rheometer
Smart software for smart rheometerKeywords: Rheology, Software
Bohlin Instruments has introduced smart software for its new C-VOR rheometer. Apart from using latest digital technology to enable true strain and stress testing, the C-VOR also benefits from a powerful software system specifically developed for smart rheological testing.
The heart of the software is its connection with the rheometer-based digital signal processor (DSP), allowing sampling rates of 3,000 points per second that is automatically adjusted to ensure optimum measurement conditions are always achieved for the relevant test application. The benefits of this smart sampling are far reaching because now, for the first time, rheological test methods can be used directly to simulate transient processes which previously were near on impossible to replicate. In addition, features of smart sampling include more accurate, noise-free and reproducible data than ever before. As a direct result of customer feedback, the incorporation of the flow and temperature smart profile modes provide ultimate flexibility in experiment design. Flow tests can now be constructed using a finite number of stages in which shear ramps or steps can be specified to any user-defined shear rate. The need for reliable temperature control has always been a feature of rheological software, but now temperatures can be programmed with the powerful profile mode allowing complete thermal cycles to be constructed from a few simple icon controls. Customer applications that have already benefited from this test approach include gellation, polymer degradation, and curing.
The software is truly a modular construction with a choice of test modes that extend its use for a broad range of rheological applications. These include creep, oscillation, parallel superposition (dynamic and steady shear), stress growth, and stress relaxation.
The software is completed with a powerful data processing test station that can be used standalone or as an integrated function. Real time analysis and smart interpretation of complex data further its use for quality control and product development where rapid decisions are sometimes required. Advanced data analysis protocols are also provided and these include time temperature superposition, molecular weight determination and inter-conversion of dynamic and transient data.
The software is 32-bit MS-Windows-based operating software compatible for use on all modem operating systems including windows 95, 98, ME, NT4, and 2000. It is inviting to use and is underpinned by a context-sensitive help system constructed of a rheology "textbook" as well as a topic search feature.
For further information on the above and all Bohlin products, contact Lynda Watson at lw@bohlin.co.uk or visit www.bohlin.com