Brabender has over 80 years of experience in the field of viscosity. One of the latest applications with the universal viscometer ViscoQuick is the measurement of rheological properties of puddings made from plant-based drinks by analyzing the influence of vegan drinks on the properties of starch in puddings. After the 2018 product launch, the ViscoQuick has proven itself predominantly for starch — based applications, but also for the analysis of liquids, slurries, creams, sauces and pastes under variable shear and temperature conditions.

Universal use due to standard measuring units and measuring equipment

Now the Duisburg-based company has developed the two new paddles C34 and C45 (in the picture 1st and 2nd paddle from left to right) for the ViscoQuick, which can be used to measure the torque and viscosity of liquids in the standard physical units centipoise (cP) and millipascalsecond (mPas). “Previously, our standard paddle (M-paddle, 3rd paddle from right in picture) could only provide a new correlation or estimate to mPas, which has a uncertainty”, explains Dr Matthias Mayser, Head of Application Lab Food & Feed at Brabender. The new paddles generate a laminar flow, so unlike the standard paddle, they are not suitable for measuring starch or suspensions, but for homogeneous liquids and mixtures. Compared to the standard paddle, the new measuring paddles cover different measuring ranges. For example, the C34 has a measuring range of 200 to 50,000 mPas for measuring liquids with high viscosities, such as syrup, and the measuring range of the new C45 paddle is 30 to 20,000 mPas for measuring medium-viscosity liquids, such as ketchup. This gives the viscometer an even wider range of applications and higher accuracy in measurements. The new paddles are particularly suitable for determining more viscous materials, whereas the standard paddle has better mixing properties due to its special geometry with flow breakers and is thus suitable for measuring cold-swelling starches, for example.

Wide range of applications

This makes the new ViscoQuick even more universally applicable. Up to now, the new paddles have been used to test various applications in the food sector, such as ketchup, oils, honey, syrup or toffee cream. “However, the new ViscoQuick can not only be used in the food industry; it is also possible to analyze engine oils, for example”, adds Mayser. Other advantages of the device include better heating or cooling rates. It can cool down to as low as 10°C – best values in the device class. The ViscoQuick also has a quick measurement method and can perform starch-based standard measurements in ten minutes. In addition, the viscometer’s beakers and paddles are made of stainless steel and can be cleaned easily.