{"id":10232,"date":"2026-08-01T12:40:37","date_gmt":"2026-08-01T12:40:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fsxchemical.com\/?p=10232"},"modified":"2026-10-25T08:47:31","modified_gmt":"2026-10-25T08:47:31","slug":"textile-printing-thickener-viscosity-test-methods","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fsxchemical.com\/uk\/blog\/textile-printing-thickener-viscosity-test-methods\/","title":{"rendered":"\u042f\u043a \u043f\u043e\u0440\u0456\u0432\u043d\u044f\u0442\u0438 \u043c\u0435\u0442\u043e\u0434\u0438 \u0432\u0438\u043f\u0440\u043e\u0431\u0443\u0432\u0430\u043d\u043d\u044f \u0432\u2019\u044f\u0437\u043a\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0456 \u0437\u0430\u0433\u0443\u0449\u0443\u0432\u0430\u0447\u0456\u0432 \u0434\u043b\u044f \u0442\u0435\u043a\u0441\u0442\u0438\u043b\u044c\u043d\u043e\u0433\u043e \u0434\u0440\u0443\u043a\u0443"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Technical Guide: Viscosity Testing and Supplier Comparison<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Compare textile thickener viscosity by first defining product form, concentration basis, preparation history, temperature, instrument, spindle or rotor, speed, container and reading time. A 1% result cannot be treated as equivalent to a 2% result from an unspecified method. For fixed-method quality control, reproduce the agreed preparation and measuring procedure. For application selection across different grades, also verify that each candidate has been prepared appropriately before comparing finished-print performance; an identical viscosity number is not a requirement for every suitable product.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Same Number
\u2260
Same Product<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For many textile printing thickener solutions and pastes, the reported result is an apparent viscosity under a defined measurement condition<\/strong>. If the concentration, spindle, speed, temperature or preparation method changes, the reading may also change even when the product itself has not changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Understanding the Result<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Does a Thickener Viscosity Number Actually Mean?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A viscosity result describes resistance to flow under the conditions used during the test. It does not describe the complete printing performance of the product.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many CMC, CMS, sodium alginate and printing-paste systems show non-Newtonian behavior. Their apparent viscosity may change when the applied shear condition changes. ASTM D2196 therefore distinguishes between a viscosity value at one rotational speed and broader characterization using multiple speeds, shear thinning and viscosity recovery.[2]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A shear-thinning paste can show lower apparent viscosity under stronger applied shear. Its response when shear is reduced may include both rate-dependent flow and time-dependent structural recovery; a speed change alone does not establish recovery time. Record the shear, rest and reading sequence when comparing recovery. These properties can affect transfer, definition and spreading, but the complete print still needs an application trial.[4]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Viscosity is one part of rheology.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rheology considers how a material flows and deforms under different conditions. A single viscosity number does not fully describe shear thinning, thixotropy, yield behavior or viscosity recovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minimum Comparison Data<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ten Conditions Buyers Should Confirm<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A supplier viscosity value is useful only when the associated method is clear enough to reproduce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Test Condition<\/th>Why It Matters<\/th>What the Buyer Should Request<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Product form<\/th>Powder, flake and liquid products may use different preparation and control methods.<\/td>Confirm whether the test is performed on the supplied product or on a prepared solution.<\/td><\/tr>
Concentration<\/th>Polymer-solution viscosity can change substantially with concentration.<\/td>Confirm the percentage and whether it is w\/w, w\/v, dry basis or as-supplied basis.<\/td><\/tr>
Temperature<\/th>Viscosity is temperature dependent.<\/td>Record the sample temperature, such as 25\u00b0C.<\/td><\/tr>
Instrument<\/th>Different instrument designs and geometries may not generate directly equivalent results.<\/td>Record the manufacturer and instrument model.<\/td><\/tr>
Spindle or rotor<\/th>Spindle geometry influences the applied measurement condition.<\/td>Record the exact spindle, rotor or measuring geometry.<\/td><\/tr>
Rotational speed<\/th>Non-Newtonian samples may give different apparent viscosity at different RPM.<\/td>Record the RPM or defined shear rate.<\/td><\/tr>
Container and volume<\/th>Container diameter, sample volume and boundary conditions can influence rotational-viscometer readings.<\/td>Record the container type and minimum sample volume.<\/td><\/tr>
Preparation method<\/th>Mixing sequence, agitation, water addition and dispersion affect hydration and air incorporation.<\/td>Record mixing time, speed, order of addition and equipment.<\/td><\/tr>
Hydration and rest time<\/th>Some polymer solutions continue developing viscosity after initial mixing.<\/td>Record the defined hydration, resting and deaeration period.<\/td><\/tr>
Reading time<\/th>The indicated value may change before the sample reaches a stable or specified test condition.<\/td>Record the measurement duration or defined end condition.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

AMETEK Brookfield specifically advises using the same instrument, spindle, speed, container, temperature and test time when viscosity data must be compared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Solution Preparation<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Textile<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Why Concentration Must Be Defined Precisely<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A statement such as \u201cviscosity at 1%\u201d is incomplete unless its concentration basis is defined. The following powder-and-water examples use as-supplied powder mass divided by final solution mass<\/strong>, with a final mass of 100 g. They are not automatically moisture-corrected dry-matter or active-polymer concentrations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Target Concentration<\/th>As-supplied powder<\/th>Water<\/th>Total Solution<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
1% w\/w<\/th>1.00 g<\/td>99.00 g<\/td>100.00 g<\/td><\/tr>
2% w\/w<\/th>2.00 g<\/td>98.00 g<\/td>100.00 g<\/td><\/tr>
5% w\/w<\/th>5.00 g<\/td>95.00 g<\/td>100.00 g<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Do not assume that every \u201c1%\u201d method means 1% w\/w.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some documents use mass per volume, moisture-corrected dry matter or an internal preparation method. For a powder-and-water solution on a specified dry-matter basis, use product mass = target dry-matter mass fraction \u00d7 final solution mass \u00f7 measured product dry-matter fraction<\/strong>; water is the final mass minus product mass. State both fractions as decimals, use the agreed moisture\/dry-matter method, and account for other recipe inputs separately. Dry matter can include salts and other nonpolymer residue. For liquid products, measured nonvolatile residue likewise does not by itself identify active-polymer content. Record the declared basis before comparing results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Example Comparison<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Two Identical Numbers May Not Be Comparable<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

SUPPLIER A<\/p>\n\n\n\n

50,000 mPa\u00b7s<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1% w\/w solution, 25\u00b0C, Brookfield RV instrument, Spindle No. 7, 20 RPM, defined hydration and reading time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SUPPLIER B<\/p>\n\n\n\n

50,000 mPa\u00b7s<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2% solution, NDJ instrument, rotor and speed not stated, temperature and preparation method not stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion:<\/strong> These values should not be treated as equivalent. The numerical result is the same, but the concentration and measurement conditions are not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The figures above are an illustrative comparison, not a product specification.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instrument Conditions<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instrument, Spindle, RPM and Container<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Instrument Model<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBrookfield viscosity\u201d is not a complete method by itself. The instrument family, torque range and measuring geometry should be identified. An NDJ result should not automatically be treated as equivalent to a Brookfield result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spindle or Rotor<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The spindle interacts with the sample and defines part of the measuring geometry. Changing the spindle can change the valid measurement range and, for non-Newtonian materials, the reported apparent viscosity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rotational Speed<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A shear-thinning paste may show a lower apparent viscosity as rotational speed increases. The RPM must therefore be reported with the result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Container Geometry<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Standard spindles are designed for specific container dimensions and sample volumes. Alternative containers may produce repeatable but different results.[1]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check the instrument torque or valid operating range.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A reading outside the instrument manufacturer\u2019s recommended range should not be accepted merely because a viscosity number appears on the display.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sample History<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Temperature, Hydration, Mixing and Air Bubbles<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For fixed-SOP batch control or a deliberately shared preparation challenge, reproduce the agreed sample history as well as the measuring setup. The checklist below serves that purpose. A separate application comparison may require grade-specific dispersion, hydration or activation; record those differences instead of interpreting an underprepared candidate as inherently unsuitable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n