ADVANCED RHEOMETER

AR 2000, AR 1000 & AR

500
Prepared by
Fred A. Mazzeo
Guide to Setting Up the Rheoete!
Out"in
e
1. Turn on the computer controller.
2. Always make sure that the air supply is turned on to the
rheometer.
3. Remove the black bearing lock by holding it in place while
turning the draw rod knob at the top in a counter-clockwise
direction. Once the bearing lock is removed, make sure that
the spindle rotates freely.
NOTE: hen using the AR!""", please ensure that the
drive-shaft slide lock is pulled-out.
4. Turn on the power to the instrument and, if present, the #T$
controller.
NOTE: %f step & is performed before step ', an alarm will
sound and the instrument controller display will read (optical
init. fail). At this point *ust follow step ' and the alarm will
stop.
5. +lease ensure that the water supply is turned on.
6. hen instrument has ,nished the system check, turn on the
instrument control software.
7. -o to the Instrument Status Page to make
certain that communication has been established between
the computer and the instrument.
8. #n$t!uent #ne!ti%& .etermine the instrument inertia by
selecting Options>Instrument>Inertia and run the (calibrate)
wi/ard.
9. 'e%!ing (!i)tion Co!!e)tion& 0elect
Options>Instrument>iscellaneous and make sure that the
bearing friction correction bo1 has a value and the bearing
friction correction is activated.
a. %f there is no value, perform the bearing ,ction
correction procedure via the wi/ard, 2Rheology
Advantage '."3, or using the !elp>In"e# under the
phrase ($riction% calibration>"etermining bearing
$riction correction).
1&. Geoet!*& Attach test geometry by holding it in place
while turning the draw rod knob at the top in a counter-
clockwise direction. $hoose the appropriate geometry, if the
,le already e1ists 2'eometr(>Open)3, or create a new
geometry by selecting 'eometr(>*e+, and follow the guide.
11. Geoet!* #ne!ti%& $alibrate the geometry inertia by
456
following the wi/ard that is found in the 'eometr( Page
>Settings>Inertia% ,alibrate.
12. M%pping& +erform a mapping on the geometry by
using the icon or use Instrument>apping. 0elect
either the number of iterations or mapping type within the
icon dialog window 2Rheology Advantage '."3 or under
Options>Settings>apping and
Options>Instrument>iscellaneous% apping -(pe,
respectively.
a. 7apping only needs to be performed when using a 8ow
procedure and when the lower two decades of tor9ue is
necessary for data ac9uisition.
b. The number of iterations should be set greater than
one when testing a very low viscosity material. hen
performing a $reep procedure the number of iterations
should be set to &, if the Recovery step is set to /ero.
Otherwise, setting the number of iterations greater
than three has diminishing returns in the mapping
performance.
c. The mapping type can be set to fast, standard or
precision. %t is recommend that (standard) should be
selected for most materials, but for more critical
measurements, (precision) mapping is more suited.
13. Tepe!%tu!e S*$te Se"e)tion& 0elect the
temperature system and attach the appropriate bottom
assembly.
a. :or AR4"""56""5;$R instruments, the temperature
read and control must be set to the appropriate
temperature system. This is accomplished by choosing
Options>Instrument>-emperature% -emperature .ea"
and -emperature ,ontrol setting both to (+eltier), if
using the +eltier +late, or (Temperature 0ystem) if any
other system is being used.
b. This selection is not necessary for the AR!""".
14. G%p Copen$%tion& %f you have the normal force
option, you can obtain the gap compensation value by using
the gap compensation wi/ard located in the 'eometr(
Page>Settings 2Rheology Advantage '."3 or by performing
an oscillation temperature ramp 2tor9ue of ".4 <m = a
fre9uency of 4 >/ conducted at a ramp rate of !?$5min3
under normal force control 24< @5- ".4, 4""" m up5down,
compression3 and then ,t a straight line to the graph of -ap
vs. Temperature. The slope must be then entered in the
Options>Instrument>-emperature% -emperature ,alibration
region within the cell located to the right of the appropriate
temperature system if not using the calibration wi/ard. The
gap compensation check bo1 should be activated located
!56
within the Options>Instrument>-emperature dialog window.
%f the <ormal :orce option is unavailable, then
predetermined values must be entered.
NOTE: The gap compensation value must be set to /ero
before this step is performed.
NOTE: %f controlling normal force throughout an
e1periment, the gap compensation value is recommended to
be activated.
NOTE: -ap $ompensation needs only to be used when
testing over a temperature range.
15. +e!o G%p& Aero the gap by choosing the /ero gap icon
, or by selecting Instrument>'ap>/ero 'ap and follow
the directions on screen.
a. %f e9uipped with normal force, there are two options
that one can used to /ero the gap, deceleration or
normal force. -enerally, the normal force method is
recommended. This choice is made in the
Options>Instrument>'ap>'ap /ero o"e% *ormal
0orce. 0et the value e9ual to 4 <.
NOTE: The upper geometry should be at the testing
temperature before /eroing the gap. This will account for
the change in dimensions due to the coeBicient of thermal
e1pansion of the testing geometry5system.
16. ,!o)edu!e& 0et up procedure by selecting the
appropriate ,le, if previously created, by choosing
Proce"ure>Open or create a new procedure by selecting
Proce"ure>*e+. The procedure can be adapted in the
Proce"ure Page
17. Note$& #nter sample information within the *otes
Page or by selecting *otes>*e+.
18. S%p"e -o%ding& Coad sample, lower geometry to
appropriate gap and trim if applicable 2for additional help, go
to !elp>1i"eo ,lips% 2oa"ing an" -rimming a Sample3.
a. The gap can be set by three diBerent methods.
i. 7anually enter the desired gap by selecting the
enter gap icon or by selecting
Instrument>'ap>3nter 'ap)
ii. Automatically have the instrument go to the gap
value entered in the 'eometr( Page>4imensions
by using the go to gap icon or select
Instrument>'ap>'o -o 'eometr( 'ap.
iii. 7anually raise or lower the gap by using the
icons. NOTE: These icons are only
'56
available when in the Instrument Status Page.
19. Run Te$t& Run test by selecting the run e1periment
icon .
&56
-eometry %nertia

2see 4"3
Once during the geometry
setup Deri,cation of value is
recommended daily, but not
re9uired
7apping
2see 44 a, b, c3
Once daily 2if same
geometry3
#very time the geometry is
changed
Aero -ap
2see 4&3
#very time geometry is
removed5replaced
-ap $ompensation
2see
4'3
Once if using same
geometry5heating system
%nstrument %nertia

2see E3
7onthly
Fearing :riction
$orrection
2see G3
7onthly
Run 0tandard Oil 7onthly
656
T%."e 1/
$alibration
-uide