Electromagnetic penetrometer for high viscosity measurement using a new displacement sensor

In this article, we present an effective device for measuring the high viscosity of Newtonian liquids using a cylindrical penetrometer. The technique relies on monitoring the temporal evolution of penetration depth. Penetration depth is accurately determined by employing a novel electromagnetic micrometric displacement sensor, which is recorded and processed via a National Instruments DAQ card and a custom LabVIEW® program. The introduction of this new electromagnetic displacement sensor, characterized by its high accuracy and its stability, is imperative to ensure reliable measurements of high viscosity. This sensor enables direct, precise, and dependable digital depth of penetration readings. We validated this device by measuring the viscosity of Maltitol as a function of temperature, and the results demonstrate reasonable agreement with values found in the literature. © 2024 Elsevier B.V.