Viscometers are measuring devices that gauge and monitor the viscous properties of fluids at ambient or defined temperatures. Industries that use viscometers are food, chemical, pharmaceutical, petrochemical, cosmetics, paint, coatings, oil and automotives.

Based on the technology adapted, viscometers come in different types, such as a rotating viscometer, a cup viscometer, a vibro viscometer, a falling ball viscometer and a capillary viscometer. Based on your application needs, you can select viscometers with different configurations such as a handheld viscometer, a portable viscometer, a benchtop viscometer or a fixed viscometer. Like other measuring devices, viscometers also come with a digital or an analog display.

Some important parameters you must consider before purchasing viscometers are:

1. System fluid
2. Range of viscosity
3. Accuracy and resolution of the viscometers available in the market
4. Operating temperature for the viscometer

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Buy viscometers from reputable manufacturers

Once you have identified your viscosity measurement requirements, evaluate different industrial viscometers available in the market.

I recommend: Grace Instrument manufactures viscometers for various industries, such as petrochemical, pharmaceutical and food. VISGAGE offers viscometers suitable for on-site oil viscosity testing requirements in truck and bus lines, marine fleets and power plants. Norcross supplies cup viscometers to measure a wide range of viscosity from 1-7,000 centipoises. You can buy a vibro viscometer at Dynatrol, a reputable viscometer manufacturer for the plastics, chemicals, paper, oils, adhesives and food industries. Furthermore, evaluate different viscometers at Analytical Process, if you need an in-line viscometer.

Buy viscometers from reputable distributors or retailers

At distributors and retailers' websites, you can compare different viscometers based on their features and prices.

I recommend: Paul N. Gardner Co. offers a variety of viscometers and accessories such as viscometer tubes and cups. Cole-Parmer is a reputable supplier of industrial fluid handling equipment including viscometers.

Buy a specialty or customized viscometer model

If standard viscometers do not meet your requirements, opt for a customized or specialty viscometer.

I recommend: If you want to measure viscosities of molten glass at various temperatures, select a glass viscometer by Orton, a leading ceramic manufacturer. Cambridge Viscosity, a leading cone viscometer manufacturer, can provide you with customized viscometers that require less frequent calibration and maintenance. Brookfield Engineering Laboratories supplies viscometers for paints, adhesives and inks that can display results in different units such as centipoise, gram and Krebs units. If you need portable viscometers for on-site applications, evaluate viscometers offered by Hydramotion, a customized viscometer manufacturer.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  For automation in process industries, opt for modern computerized viscometers.
• •  Inquire about ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) standards followed by your viscometer vendor, as the standards can give you an idea about the quality of measurement of the viscometer model you have selected.
• •  Search for viscometers with additional features, such as temperature compensation, temperature sensing and data storage units.