An Automated Rotating Cylinder Viscometer For Glass

The automation of a rotating cylinder viscometer for specific glass applications is presented. Viscosity is a key parameter of glass manufacture and influences melting and forming processes. For high viscosities, a fibre elongation method is used while the rotating cylinder method is preferred for lower viscositites. This method was first used by Lillie and has become, over the years, a standard method for measuring viscosities of glasses at high temperature.