Viscosity is one of the fundamental properties of liquids and is measured in various industrial processes. However, conventional viscometers require samples in milliliter units, making them unsuitable for rare or expensive samples.
Prof Kazue Kurihara, Associate Prof. Masashi Mizukami et al., have developed an ultra-micro viscometer capable of measuring sample volumes of just 5 to 10 microliters -one-thousandth to one-hundredth of the conventional required amount-. This instrument is the most sensitive device capable of measurement with the smallest sample volume.
The viscosity of battery electrolyte is one factor determining battery resistance, but it has not been measured due to the difficulty in extracting it. Similarly, injectable pharmaceutical solutions require viscosity adjustment, but measuring them has been challenging when containing rare or expensive drugs due to significant economic or practical burdens. This developed instrument enables the measurement of these samples.
Furthermore, it is applicable to blood viscosity measurements where minimal blood volume is preferred (such as for monitoring blood disorders), and it is expected to open up new demand for viscometers.
This instrument was developed with support from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology’s Regional Innovation Ecosystem Formation Program.
Related materials
Tohoku University press release page (Japanese) (click here)
(Addition)
On January 14, 2022, SMILEco Measurement Co., Ltd., was established which manufactures and sells measurement instruments such as the ultra-micro viscometer along with their accessories.
link
SMILEco Measurement Co., Ltd., website (Japanese) (click here)