

Smart Scientific analysis
15
www.formulaction.comMICROFLUIDIC PRINCIPLE
RHEOLOGY ON CHIP
Measurement principle
A sample and a viscosity standard are
pushed together through a « Y-shaped »
microfluidic chip at controlled flow rates.
Images of the resulting laminar co-flow are
acquired via an integrated optical system
and the position of the interface is
measured. The interface position is related
to the viscosity and the flow rate ratios
between the sample and the reference.
Using dedicated algorithms, sample
viscosity is automatically extracted as a
function of shear rate and temperature.
Flow curve in a single click
Viscosity measurement is now as easy as
filling a syringe. Once shear rate ranges
and temperatures are selected,
software will automatically control and
adjust the flow rate and determine the
viscosity. Not only it enables one-click
experiments, but the technology is also
calibration free and extremely precise.
RHEOLOGY ON CHIP
OPTICAL MEASUREMENT OF CONFINED FLOW RHEOLOGY
Camera
Reference
Viscosity
h
R
Flow Rate Q
R
Sample
Viscosity
h
Flow Rate Q
W W
R
Shear Rate
a
Flow Rate
Channel Gap
W
h
Q = x
W
R
h
R
Q
R
Syringe
pumps
Viscosity
10
Newtonian
Shear-thinning
10
2
10
3
10
4
10
5
Shear rate (s
-1
)
VISUAL FLOW
RHEOLOGY BY
MICROFLUIDICS
Fluidicam is designed for flow curve
measurements over a wide range of
application: from extremely low viscosity up
to thick and pasty formulations. Thanks to
its unique microfluidic technology, Fluidicam
covers a very wide range of shear rates
(even higher than 10
5
s
-1
) with low sample
consumption.
Visual Rheology
Based on a simple intuitive
principle, the interface
between the fluids is
detected by a video camera.
Each measurement point
is associated to an image
accessible for control during
and after the analysis. Thanks
to Fluidicam, reliability
reaches a new standard.
Reference
Sample