ATAGO VISCO™ A-Kit Portable Rotational Viscometer with Disposable Cup Adapter

Overview

The ATAGO VISCO™ A-Kit is a precision-engineered portable rotational viscometer optimized for rapid, repeatable viscosity and temperature measurements in quality control laboratories, production floors, and field applications. Operating on the principle of coaxial cylinder (Couette) flow, the instrument measures the torque required to rotate a spindle at a defined angular velocity within a sample—directly correlating resistance to shear stress and enabling calculation of dynamic viscosity (mPa·s) under controlled shear conditions. Unlike capillary or falling-ball viscometers, the VISCO™ A-Kit supports multi-speed testing across an exceptionally wide dynamic range—from low-viscosity liquids (e.g., solvents, beverages) to highly structured non-Newtonian systems (e.g., adhesives, pastes, polymer melts)—without requiring solvent rinsing between samples. Its integrated Pt100 temperature probe ensures simultaneous real-time thermal monitoring with ±0.2 °C accuracy, critical for temperature-dependent rheological characterization per ISO 2555 and ASTM D2196.

Key Features

• Disposable cup adapter system compatible exclusively with ATAGO-certified paper and plastic cups (50 each included), eliminating cross-contamination and reducing cleaning downtime by >90% versus conventional glassware.
• Three interchangeable spindles (A1, A2, A3) calibrated for distinct viscosity sub-ranges: A1 (50–200,000 mPa·s), A2 (100–600,000 mPa·s), and A3 (500–2,000,000 mPa·s), enabling optimal torque utilization across 20 programmable rotational speeds (0.5–250 rpm).
• High-resolution digital display showing viscosity (mPa·s/cP), temperature (°C/°F), and relative torque (%), with automatic unit conversion and configurable averaging (1–10 readings).
• Robust mechanical architecture: stainless-steel housing, aluminum base plate, and corrosion-resistant fasteners ensure long-term dimensional stability and vibration damping during benchtop operation.
• USB 2.0 interface enables direct data export to PC for post-acquisition analysis; firmware supports timestamped logging with audit trail metadata (operator ID, date/time, spindle ID, speed, temperature).

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The VISCO™ A-Kit accommodates samples from 15 mL (S-cup) to 100 mL (L-cup), with the disposable cup adapter ensuring consistent meniscus height and gap geometry—key parameters governing shear rate reproducibility. It is validated for use with Newtonian fluids (e.g., mineral oils, glycerol standards) and shear-thinning/thickening suspensions (e.g., paint formulations, food emulsions, pharmaceutical gels). The instrument complies with ISO 2555:2022 (determination of apparent viscosity using rotational viscometers) and meets essential requirements of the EU Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC and EMC Directive 2014/30/EU (CE marking). Its design supports 21 CFR Part 11–aligned workflows when paired with ATAGO’s optional VISCO™ Data Manager software (v3.2+), providing electronic signatures, user access levels, and immutable audit logs for regulated environments.

Software & Data Management

Data acquisition and reporting are facilitated via ATAGO’s proprietary VISCO™ Data Manager (Windows-compatible, USB-driven). The software captures raw torque, temperature, and rotational speed values at user-defined intervals (1–60 s), calculates apparent viscosity per DIN 53019-1, and generates PDF/CSV reports compliant with internal SOPs. All exported files include embedded metadata: measurement ID, calibration certificate number (traceable to JCSS-accredited standards), environmental conditions, and operator credentials. Audit trails record every parameter change, file export, or calibration event—supporting GLP and GMP documentation requirements without third-party middleware.

Applications

• Food & Beverage: Monitoring consistency of sauces, dressings, dairy products, and plant-based alternatives during formulation and shelf-life studies.
• Pharmaceuticals: Verifying viscosity of topical gels, ointments, and oral suspensions per USP and EP 2.9.35.
• Chemicals & Coatings: Batch release testing of resins, inks, adhesives, and latex dispersions where rapid pass/fail decisions are required.
• Academic Research: Teaching fundamental rheology concepts and conducting preliminary screening of polymer solutions prior to advanced rheometric analysis.
• Field Service: On-site troubleshooting of lubricant degradation, transformer oil aging, or wastewater sludge dewaterability.

FAQ

Is the VISCO™ A-Kit suitable for non-Newtonian fluid characterization?
Yes—by measuring viscosity across multiple shear rates (via speed variation), users can construct flow curves and identify shear-thinning or shear-thickening behavior, though it does not provide full viscoelastic moduli like a controlled-stress rheometer.
Can I use third-party cups with the disposable adapter?
No—the adapter is mechanically and thermally calibrated only for ATAGO RE-78141 paper/plastic cups; dimensional deviations will compromise torque accuracy and temperature equilibration.
What is the recommended calibration frequency?
ATAGO recommends annual recalibration against NIST-traceable silicone oil standards (e.g., Cannon N4700 series) or certified reference materials, with daily verification using a zero-viscosity blank (e.g., deionized water at 25 °C).
Does the instrument support temperature-controlled measurements?
It measures sample temperature in real time but does not actively heat or cool samples; for isothermal testing, external Peltier baths or water jackets must be used in conjunction with the cup adapter.
How is traceability maintained for regulatory submissions?
Each unit ships with a JCSS-accredited factory calibration certificate (Cat. No. CAL-VISCO-A); optional IQ/OQ documentation packages are available for installation and operational qualification per ISO/IEC 17025.