Manufacturers and materials professionals can now access an online article
that describes the efficient application of performance-controlling design rules
through the use of expert system rheometry. Using the 'rSpace' expert software
in the innovative Kinexus rheometry platform from Malvern
Instruments, the development and application of design rules is not only
straightforward but allows a formulation or product microstructure to be engineered
for optimal performance.
The paper is entitled 'Expert system rheometry' and was published in September
by materialstoday.com. It can be downloaded following a free registration procedure
from: http://www.materialstoday.com/view/4202/expert-system-rheometry
Authored by Samiul Amin, Rheologist from the Novel Measurements Group at Malvern
Instruments and Steve Carrington, Rheology Product Manager, the paper presents
a more straightforward route towards engineering the next generation of complex
and nanostructured fluids.
Inks, drilling fluids, shower gels and drug delivery vehicles are just a few
examples of the many industrial and consumer products based on colloidal and
nanostructured complex fluids. The successful formulation of these materials
is promoted by understanding how rheological behaviour, which typically dictates
performance, relates to underlying microstructure.
However, this knowledge can be difficult to obtain for those without the necessary
expertise. Drs Amin and Carrington explain how Malvern's Kinexus tackles this
rheometry challenge head on. They also provide application examples to include
the rheological characterisation of associative telechelic polymers typically
used as structuring and thickening agents.
Kinexus is a unique rheometer from Malvern Instruments designed to meet rheology
needs across a wide variety of research sectors, industries and application
areas, for users at every level of experience. It enables precise analysis of
the rheology of materials: from liquids to soft solids, processability to product
performance, temperature to time dependence. A true applications-led interface
brings 'expert system' guidance and SOP-driven processes to rheological measurement,
while intelligent software invites users to work at the level most appropriate
to them - to solve a problem with an application-led approach, experiment using
established methodologies, or design tests from scratch.