In order to ensure the repeatability of experimental results, what should be paid attention to in the operation and experimental design of torque rheometer?

Publish Time: 2024-12-11

Torque rheometer plays an extremely important role in fields such as material research, and ensuring the repeatability of experimental results is the key to drawing reliable conclusions. In terms of instrument operation and experimental design, many aspects need to be carefully considered.

In instrument operation, the first thing to pay attention to is the sample loading process. Each time the sample is loaded, the amount of the sample should be ensured to be accurate and consistent, and the uniformity of the loading should also be strictly controlled. For example, for solid granular samples, local accumulation or voids should be avoided, otherwise the experimental results will be different due to uneven shear force. Secondly, the preheating and temperature balance of the instrument are crucial. Before the experiment begins, the torque rheometer should be preheated according to the prescribed time and procedure so that each component reaches a stable operating temperature state, and during the entire experiment, the temperature fluctuation should be monitored in real time to ensure that the temperature deviation is within a very small range, because the temperature has a significant impact on the rheological properties of the material. In addition, the torque sensor and speed control system need to be calibrated regularly. Only by ensuring the accuracy of its measurement can reliable torque and speed data be obtained, thereby ensuring the repeatability of the experimental results. Operators should also strictly follow the instrument's operating specifications, maintain consistency in starting, stopping, parameter settings, etc., to avoid errors caused by improper human operation.

From the perspective of experimental design, the experimental conditions must be set accurately and repeatably. This includes choosing the right rotor type and size, and keeping it consistent in each experiment. Different rotors will have different shearing effects on the material, and changing them at will will make the experimental results incomparable. The length of the experiment and the speed setting should also be fixed, because changes in these parameters will greatly affect the rheological history of the material. At the same time, the control of the experimental environment should not be ignored, such as the humidity, air pressure and other environmental factors in the laboratory, which should be kept constant as much as possible, especially for some samples that are sensitive to the environment. In addition, when conducting multiple repeated experiments, it is best to use sample materials from the same batch to eliminate experimental errors caused by differences in the materials themselves. If this is not possible, it is also necessary to ensure that the performance indicators of different batches of materials are similar, and the source and batch information of the materials should be detailed in the experimental report.

Only by strictly controlling each link of the torque rheometer operation and experimental design can we effectively improve the repeatability of experimental results, provide a solid and reliable data basis for the study of rheological properties of materials, and promote the high-quality development of research and production in related fields.