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Rheology Laboratory

Food rheology addresses fluid and structural properties of raw materials, ingredients, and intermediate and final products of the food and pharmaceutical industries. 

Its importance lies in the ability to understand how process variables influence specific textural characteristics, such as pourability and mouthfeel. Parameters are essential for the design and specification of processing equipment like pumps and heat exchangers. Rheological measurements can rapidly determine product quality and serve as a tool for quality control.

Available for contract testing and consulting, our lab helps explain the physical chemistry, molecular-level interactions, and functionality of a food system to solve industry challenges.

Services and Material Testing

  • Mathematic modeling to predict material performance during processing or experimental conditions
  • Process analysis to identify the influence of variables on specific textural characteristics
  • Product evaluation to design and specify processing equipment
  • Quality determination, including final products, ingredients, intermediate products, and raw materials
  • Creep
  • Electrorheological measurements
  • Normal force measurement
  • Steady and oscillatory simple shear modes
  • Stress relaxation
  • Tube viscometry
  • Vane method
  • Compression
  • Creep
  • Stress relaxation
  • Tension
  • Texture profiling
  • Torsion
  • Vane method

Equipment

Rheology Equipment: Anton, Drop, Microscopy, Raman

Pricing

We allow use of our equipment for external and non-federal customers. Prices are subject to change. Labor charges are included.

InstrumentRate
MCR 302 Rheometer (Bulk Rheology & Tribology) (Anton Paar)$120/hr
MCR-302 Rheometer (Interfacial Shear Rheology) (Anton Paar)$120/hr
TAXT Texture Analyzer$120/hr
Dynamic Foam Analyzer (Kruss)$120/hr
Fluorescent Microscope (Olympus)$72/hr
Drop Shape Analyzer (for interfacial tension) (Kruss)$72/hr
SDS-PAGE$240/gel
HPLC-DAD/CAD/RI (ThermoFisher)$120/sample
High pressure (100-1500bar) & high shear homogenizers (GEA, Microfluidics, IKA)$120/sample
Particle size distribution & zeta-potential (MasterSizer3000, Malvern Panalytical & Mobius, Wyatt Technology)$120/sample
Raman Spectroscopy (785nm Excitation, Metrohm)$120/sample
Membrane filtration unit (MF/UF/NF/RO; flat sheet/spiral wound/ceramic membranes; 2 – 30 l/h) (Alfa Laval)$1,200/day (8 hrs)
Bioreactor (Ralf, Bioengineering, Inc.)$1,200/day (8 hrs)
Mini Spray Dryer B-290 (1.0 L / h water) (Buchi)$600/day (8 hrs)
Consultation service$120/hr