Rheometer with Segmented Quartz Probe Units for Micro-Nano Soft Material Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rheometers are limited in measuring small amounts of micro/nano-sized soft materials and cannot perform simultaneous high-frequency and low-frequency measurements, making them inadequate for modern industrial and scientific demands, particularly in ensuring the harmlessness of soft materials to the human body.
Innovation Solution
A rheometer with a substrate that includes a vibration unit, probe units featuring quartz tuning forks and contact members of varying scales, and a controller to calculate viscoelastic forces, enabling measurements across macroscale, microscale, and nanoscale, along with temperature control and Raman spectroscopy for material analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a bulk type measurement method is used in existing rheometers, then the measurement can be performed with standard equipment, but the ability to measure very small amounts of micro/nano-sized soft material is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The rheometer is divided into multiple independent probe units, each with contact members of different sizes (macroscale, microscale, nanoscale). This segmentation allows the system to measure different quantities of soft material appropriately for each probe type, resolving the contradiction between bulk measurement capability and micro/nano measurement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The rheometer employs a dynamic vibration-based measurement system where probe units can be selectively activated and adjusted to match the scale of the sample being measured. This dynamic adaptability enables the same equipment to handle both bulk and micro/nano-sized materials effectively.
2Productivity
If a single probe unit is used in existing rheometers, then the device structure is simple, but the ability to perform simultaneous high-frequency and low-frequency measurements is limited
Solution Approach 1:
Each probe unit is designed with multi-functionality, capable of performing both high-frequency and low-frequency measurements. The universal design of the probe units allows them to handle different measurement requirements, enabling simultaneous multi-frequency measurements without requiring entirely separate systems for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-configures multiple probe units with different contact member sizes and vibration characteristics before measurement. This preliminary preparation allows the rheometer to immediately perform both high-frequency and low-frequency measurements when needed, improving productivity without requiring complex real-time adjustments.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple probe units with different contact members are provided, then the measurement capability for different scales is extended, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rheometer is divided into multiple independent probe units, each with contact members of different sizes (macroscale, microscale, nanoscale). This segmentation allows the system to measure different quantities of soft material appropriately for each probe type, resolving the contradiction between bulk measurement capability and micro/nano measurement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
Each probe unit is optimized with specific local characteristics (different contact member sizes, shapes, and vibration properties) suited for particular measurement scales. This local quality optimization allows each probe to excel at its intended scale while maintaining overall system versatility without requiring complete redesign for each application.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables extended measurement capabilities across different scales, allowing for the determination of physical properties like storage and loss moduli, and energy dissipation, facilitating the analysis of various soft materials, including non-Newtonian fluids, and providing insights into their behavior under different conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a vibration unit configured to provide the substrate with a vibration; a plurality of probe units each including a quartz tuning fork and a contact member fixed to the quartz tuning fork, the contact member being able to contact the object
Implementation Method 2
a controller configured to calculate a viscoelastic force of the object based on the vibration of the vibration unit and a vibration transmitted to the quartz tuning fork through the object from the vibration of the vibration unit
Implementation Method 3
The quartz tuning fork may operate in one mode of a shear mode in which the contact member is disposed to vibrate in the plane direction when the vibration unit vibrates in the plane direction
Implementation Method 4
a tapping mode in which the contact member is disposed to vibrate in the up-down direction when the vibration unit vibrates in the up-down direction
Data Source
AI summary
A rheometer according to an embodiment includes a substrate on which an object to be measured is placed, a vibration unit configured to provide a vibration to the substrate, a plurality of probe units each including a quartz tuning fork and a contact member fixed to the quartz tuning fork, the contact member being able to contact the object, the plurality of probe units having different types of the contact members. Any one of the plurality of probe units is selected and contacts the object, and a controller configured to calculate a viscoelastic force of the object based on a vibration of the vibration unit and a vibration transmitted to the quartz tuning fork through the object from the vibration of the vibration unit.