Rheometer has a wide range of configurational choices, permitting users to select the configuration best suited to their application, and most instruments are customised
The T2SR time and temperature scanning rheometer is described as an extremely versatile instrument with a range of configurational choices, permitting users to select the configuration best suited to their application.
The T2SR is a rugged rheometer, or flow testing instrument, that measures the flow properties of many medium-to-high viscosity fluids as they change - either as a function of temperature or as a function of cure.
As it does not need a confined sample geometry, the T2SR is able to measure materials that other instruments just cannot touch, for example those with large-particle fillers, or, as recently demonstrated, a hot melt adhesive with was extremely elastic at ambient temperatures.
The T2SR is designed to be easy to use, easy to dismantle and clean (handy if the sample sets solid during the test), and has disposable test probes and sample containers.
It operates over a range of frequencies, temperatures and sample sizes.
It has found applications in a wide range of fields, from R and D to QC, for polymers, resins, adhesives, sealants, foods, pharmaceuticals, energetics, inks, building materials and many more.
Over and above the choice of standard options, many T2SR rheometers receive some degree of custom modification.
"We like this approach to customer service, since it gives us flexibility that many of our competitors do not have", says Rhyta Rounds, technology director at Fluid Dynamics, manufacturer of the instrument.
"This has brought the level of customer service at Fluid Dynamics and at Celsum Technologies to new, even higher, standards.
"Because each customer typically has individual needs, an off-the-shelf rheometer just doesn't fit the bill in many cases.
"As a result, each instrument is now customised in hardware, software and/or thermal accessories to create a better suited instrument for each application.
"Previously sold instruments are also being upgraded and modified with changes the customer may require, frequently at minimal cost".
"We hope that this develops an environment where our customers know that we listen to their needs, and try to translate this learning into useful tools they can use in their industrial/academic work, and hope that we produce long term relationships with our client base", adds Celsum Technologies managing director, Roy Carter.
"While this has been quite costly on our part, we have the advantage of being small and thus very well suited for making effective design changes quickly.
"In addition, we find that this flexible, consultative approach is beneficial to us as the experiences feed back directly into our instrument development programmes".
Sales forecasts and leads for the balance of the year indicate that the effort may well be worthwhile.
The T2SR rheometer was designed to be easily transitioned from R and D to QC.
Being portable and well priced, with straight-forward, no-nonsense software, Fluid Dynamics has also taken this transition one more step forward.
A PDA software program called the T2SR-QC has been launched with a wireless transmitter for instrument control and data acquisition.
This is a custom software package with a preprogrammed test that a QC technician can readily execute with automatic data storage.
This has been a new addition to the line of accessories available for the T2SR rheometer.
Examples of instrument modifications that have been made and beta tested by potential customers include customised sample containers and tools, using materials of construction specified by the customers to their specifications, unique heating cells built to accommodate the custom sample containers, different tool collars for easy load and release, etc.
"There really is no limit to the changes we are willing to make to build a better rheometer monitoring rheology changes in reactive polymer systems at elevated temperatures", says Carter.
