Ⅰ. Introduction:

Laray Viscometer is an instrument applicable to determine the rheological properties ( apparent viscosity、pseudo yield value、shortness, etc ) of Non-Newtonian liquids (viscosity increases with shear rate). Larya Viscometer designed and produced by our company is in accordance with the specification of ISO12644: 1996(E) Graphic technology—Determination of rheological properties of paste inks and vehicles by the Falling Rod Viscometer . Its principle: measuring fall times by loading the rod with different load weights pass the gap which is filled with the test fluid. By applying linear regression methods & by means of suitable flow model ( Casson model, Bingham model or Power Law model ) to obtain apparent viscosity、yield value、shortness ratio of sample. 

LBN-III Laray Viscometer is based on the old instrument, and the control box is added with the function of directly displaying the calculation results of exponential law model. The control box of the old instrument only displays the falling temperature and the falling seconds during the drop test, and the calculation results of each model are completed by computer EXCEL calculation table. For the convenience of users, the new model instrument is improved to complete the model calculation and display by the touch screen of the control box.

Ⅱ. Main Technical Parameters:

1. Input power supply of instrument control box: DC24V
2. External power adapter Input power: AC110-220 50/60Hz
3. Applicable apparent viscosity range: 2-200Pa·s
3. Dimensions of the falling rod: 12mm
4. Weight of the falling rod: 132g
5. Sets of load weights ( total 4075g ): 25-50-100-200-200-500-1000-1000-1000g
6. Overall dimensions: 140mm×140mm×300mm (length by width by height)
7. Packing size：620×350×215mm
8. Weight (including instrument、weight box、controller）：18kg
9. Gross weitht：14.8kg
 

Ⅲ. Preparation before operation:

1.Take the instrument out from the box, level it.
2.Insert signal connecting wire plug, insert temperature sensor into diagonal hole of guide bush of Laray Viscometer.
3.Separately connect two lead out latex pipes from thermostatic bath (ordering separately) to thermostatic (water) jacket.
4. Turn on power, switch on the power of thermostatic bath and electronic controlling box, temperature indicator display current temperature of guide bush of falling rod Viscometer, timing indicator should display 0.00 sec. (Note: specific operation of thermostatic bath refers to instruction manual).
5. Testing Environment: 25℃±2℃. When the temperature of guide bush of Falling Rod Viscometer reaches 25℃±2℃, the test shall be carried out.
6. During operation, a naked Hand should be avoided to touch guide bush & falling rod so as to cause man-made warming-up. Guide bush & falling rod should be touched by hand with glove.
 

Ⅳ. Test procedure:

1.Prior to use, the test sample (about 5g) shall be kneaded by a spatula and equilibrated to test temperature. The sample shall be homogeneous and not contain any coarse particles. An amount of the test sample sufficient to coat the rod and aperture is applied to the lower part of the rod.
2.The bottom of the rod is inserted into the aperture of guide bush and slightly fall on the turntable, the sample is distributed uniformly around the gap, the gap is filled with the test fluid which is sheared when the rod falls by using fingertip; lift the bottom of the rod 20mm, then fall on the turntable.
3.Load weights to be loaded on top of the rod, remove a turntable to let falling rod fall, the rod and the aperture are wetted by the liquid; Make sure that photoswitch & temperature sensor are working normally (temperature indicator display starting temperature when starting falling, time indicator starts to display seconds; temperature indicator display finishing temperature when finishing falling, time indicator display actual fall time; temperature resume to display actual temperature of guide bush after pulling up the rod, time automatically clear.
4.Avoid any scoring operation for the rod, the metal spatula should not be allowed operation for the rod; Don’t do falling operation under the condition of no test sample. After finishing falling, the rod is lightly pulled up and rested on the support. After each run, the rod is scraped with the spatula and the liquid which was scraped off is reapplied on the lower part of the rod & the aperture of guide bush.
5.The proper sets of load weights is selected according to the expected results. The fall time with the heaviest load weight should normally be in the range from 4s to 10s ( ASTM D4040-05 recommend 1-2s. Series of load weights are combined to sets. Sets of load weights with the following masses should be used: (Unit: g)
A: 5000   4000   3000   2000   1000
B: 3000   2000   1500    500
C: 1500   1000    800    500
D: 800     600    400    200
E: 400     300    200    100
   F: 200     100     50      0
6.The sample is tested with the heaviest load weight at the beginning of the tests, load weighs in descending order. Fall time during the test with the heaviest load weight varies less than 0.5s, the sample is tested with the selected series of load weights in descending order. The fall time shall not exceed 60s. After each run, the rod is scraped with the spatula and the liquid which was scraped off is reapplied on the lower part of the rod. During the test, additional liquid shall not be added. The sample is tested with each load weight for three times. By loading the rod with different load weights record the fall time every time ( correct to 0.01s), and temperature of guide bush during measurement ( correct to 0.1℃).
7.Operation shall be done quickly and can’t be interrupted, the whole operation shall be finished within 5-10 minutes. Many printing ink and vehicles have strong volatile solvent, only if strictly control actual exposition time, otherwise volatile loss cause large deviation of test result during operation. If found several continuous falling with the same load weight, fall time could be longer, it indicates that obvious volatile loss exists.
8.Viscosity is strongly temperature dependent, therefore the temperature shall be controlled and monitored. Principally, if the test temperature varies from reference temperature (25℃) by more than 0.2℃ before the runs, the thermostatic equipment shall be reset. if the temperature during the test varies more than 1℃, the test shall be repeated.
9.After the test, the instrument shall be cleaned immediately with a lint-free wiper and a suitable solvent, especially the rod & guide bush.
 

Ⅴ. Note:

1.The rod、guide bush and photoswitch、controlling box must be matching operation according to number, they should not be interlace operation, otherwise device factors 、 will be invalid.
2.The rod and guide bush are high accuracy parts, their accuracy directly influence data, so tested sample is not allowed to contain any coarse particles, the spatula used for scrapping ink must be made of plastic or other soft material so as to avoid scoring.
3.Device factors 、 and a correction factor δ are measured by our company’s examiner in our factory, attached with a disc.
4.During measurement, a rod and a guide bush wear continuely, device factors  and correction factor also vary a little bit,so the viscometer should be sent back to our company for checking & correcting every year.
5.Laray Viscometer is used for chemical material process, safety and health protective step must be set up in accordance with all local codes and ordinances. Before using this machine, safety problem associated with chemical material must be established by user, not belonging to explanation of this Instruction Manual.
6.It is our goal to bring increased performance and greater value to these established products as quick as possible. Our company reserves the right to make changes without notice at any time. 
 

Ⅵ. Operation video:

Ⅶ. Configuration list：

Ⅷ. Ordering Information:

Ⅸ. Documents: