Evaluation of a helical ribbon impeller as a viscosity measuring device for fluid foods with particles

Abstract

Abstract The traditional methods of measuring viscosity with rotational viscometers, i.e. cone-plate and concentric cylinder systems, are often not suitable for suspensions. To be able to measure viscosity on suspensions mixer viscometers have been developed. In this study a new design of a helical ribbon impeller has been evaluated and the Metzner-Otto approach has been used to calibrate the impeller. Different kinds of food products were studied. The Metzner-Otto parameter obtained from tomato products was lower than those obtained from starch products. The study showed that the Metzner-Otto parameter varied but seemed rather to be dependent on the composition of the food material than on the flow behaviour index. The impeller could handle high concentration of quite large particles. This type of helical ribbon impeller viscometer is thus recommended for rheological studies of suspensions with high concentration of particles.