This European Standard specifies six methods which, experience has shown, are suitable for measuring the viscosity of a wide range of adhesives:
- rotational viscometer method;
- cone and plate viscometer method;
- falling ball viscometer method;
- glass capillary viscometer method;
- flow cup method;
- pressurised extrusion method.
This standard does not intend to describe equipment, which is unique to one manufacturer, rather it describes generic types of viscometer. The instruments described operate on very different principles making it inadvisable to compare results from one type of viscometer with those from another. However, results from different instruments of the same type should be comparable.
NOTE 1 Some modern viscometers incorporate integrated electronic measuring devices and have a high degree of automation. The user will not necessarily have access to (or need to know) full details of an instrument’s measuring systems. However, all viscometers are capable of being calibrated and, to conform to this standard, the viscometer used should be calibrated in the appropriate viscosity range before a test. Certified calibration fluids should be used for this purpose and evidence of calibration given with the test results.
NOTE 2 The properties of many adhesives are very sensitive to test conditions. It is important therefore that the test report contains comprehensive information on the conduct of the test.