Clean viscometers are essential if be performed whiJe the viscometer

precise and accurate measltrements renrains fixecj in the constani

Cleaning insoluble
are to be nrade. Because CANNON lemperature bath. CANNON often eieposits from viscometers
receives a significant number of places viscometers jn an open Capillary viscometers are often usecl to
requests for advice about cieaning aluminum oven (2' wide x 7" lonq x 5 measLtre materials which leave stains
methods. we offer the following deep). maintained at an cievated or siqnificant deposits of materjal
instructions as a guide Io cleaning lemperalure. during the cleanrng insolubie in normal clcaning solvents.
mosI glass capillary viscometers. procedure.Even after the bulk of a Tire most common approach for
viscous sample has been removed removing this material involves filling
Removing the test sample from the instrunrent, dissolving the the instrument with a chromic acid
from the viscometer rest of it may pose a considerable cleaning solution and allowing the
The first step ln cleaning is io renrove problem. We have found lhat a instrument to soak in the acid for up to
the buik of the test sample. For low rrixture of octane isomers is especiaily 21 hours. Chromic acid solutions are
vrscosity liquids. the v'scometer may be effective in renroving the last traces of strongly oxtdizinq and will convert
turned upside down and allowed to high viscosity standards from many materiais to a soluble fornt.
hang while the test sample drains into viscometers- Chromic acid will not <tttaci< the
a trough. For high viscosity liquids. the borosilrcate glass of rhe viscomcter
sanrple may have to tle drawn out Drying the viscorneter and thus will not alter the calibration
under vacuum. The material after cleaning constant. Proper procedures must be
rem.:ining in the viscometer must then The viscometer must be completely followed when using and discarding
be removed by flushing with a suirable dry before another sample is loaded. chromic acid since it is a hazardous
solvent. Distilled water is an obvious Highly volatile solvents are material. A comrnerclally
r hoice for aqueous solutions. 'cco'rnrendc d lor cleaning since .rny nranufacture d oxidizing rea gent
Petroleum-based lubricants and rer-narning solvc.nt will evaporatc { Nochromix'rr) is chromium-free and

asphalts can usually be dissolved wtth guickly after the sample has been may be substituted for chromic acid
light n?phtha, heptane. ocl.rne. highly flushed from tl-re r.riscometer. Often, solutions. Nochromix is available from
aromatic solvents, and many other hor,,vever, the best choice of solvent for CANNON.
petro/eum-derived solvents Varsol. js the material in the viscometer is not Beware of glass cleaners with a high
a commercial solvent that works very espccially volatiie. ln this case, a pH. Changes in viscometer calibration
w-ell for this purpose. For some typei second highly volatile solvent. which as grcat as 2Ao/c have been observed
of samples it may be difficult to flnd a r,vill dissolve the first soivent, can be cJue to the prolonged use of alkaline
suitable solvent. used for the final step in cleaning. cleaning solutions. lf .rli<aline cleaning
Highly viscous samples will not easiiy Acetone is commonly used as the solutions with a pH qreater than l0
pour from the instrument nor do they second solvent because of its high have been used. the viscometer
responcl well even under vacuum. The volatility and its abiliry Io dissolve callbration should be verified to
best approach is to lower the viscos;ly traces of petroleum solvents and ensure th.tt there has not been a
by heating the instrument in an open \.r,/ate f. significant change.
oven or with a strcam of hot air. A /ow velocity stream of clean air r,viil lnsoluble partic,es stucl< in the capillary
Simply inverting the instrument and be srir1icient [o ev,tpor<rte rcm.rinrng of a viscometer can solnerimes be
suspencling it in an open oven over a lraces of a volatiie solvent, but be clislodgt-d by using an ultrasonrc
receptacle to catch the sampie usr_rally alvarc that rapid evaporation of these cleaner.
urorl<s well. Another ntcthod is to solvents c.rn cool the surface of the
cjraw the bulk of thc ,sar-r-rpic out while glass to such an extent that humid air lf you are er-icounlering a special
the instrunrent is at an elevatec, cleaning problem, we urge you to
may be brought below the dew point,
temper.tture in a constant contact us ior assistance.
causirrg a film of water to form on the
Iemperature bath. This inethod work-s innei' surf.:ces of the visconreter. V.rrsol is J r--gisrered tra.lemark of the E-xxon
oarl jcul.rrj), rvell for certain i ,scomctcrs He;iting the air being drawn into thc Con_rpany.

{such as the Zeitfuchsi Cross-Arn'r jnstrument or heating the glass itself l'.lochronrix is a registe real tr:,idenl.trk of Goclar.
viscometer), .rs the entire cleaning can vl'iil usu.rliy overcome this problem.

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f:& fuH-Affif*BlB
tuJ:ss #g &'asE
2139 lligh Tech Roacl
BOA 67
. Silte College . PA . 16803 .
6-6232 " 811-353 80C0 . Fax B 1 4-_153-8C07 .
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