::: Intelligence in Rheometry

Tips and Tricks from Joe Flow – RheoCompass™: 2 – Analysis and macrosThis newsletter is about interactive curve analysis within the diagram and automated analysis during a test execution. Furthermore, I would like to present the method you can use to create and apply a user-defi ned analysis macro.

Interactive curve analysis within the diagram

Analysis macros are started by selecting a curve in the diagram (figure 1). With the first click all measuring points are selected. A part of the curve is selected with the second and third click by holding the Shift key.

Fig. 1: Interactive analysis

The calculator icon in the curve ribbon is then used to select the appropriate analysis macro. The regressed curve is presented immediately together with the parameters in the diagram legend (figure 2 with example of Carreau-Yasuda regression).

Fig. 2: Diagram with legend and analysis result

For further information the analysis result is selected in the data tree of the navigation pane. The info pane then shows the corre-sponding regression long result (figure 3). Alternatively the analysis result is presented in the report window (figure 7).

Fig. 3: Analysis long result

Automated analysis as part of the test definition

Very often a series of measurements is performed using the same settings. In such cases it is advisable to define an automated run using the test designer toolbox in the navigation pane or to add a new action from the ribbon.

Fig. 4: Adding an analysis action to the test definition

Simply drag and drop the analysis action to the test definition. Then add the required analysis steps or macros to the analysis action and define the input data using the placeholder <next test>. The measurement and the analysis are executed fully automatical-ly once the ‘next test’ has been started.If for any reason the analysis fails, use the interactive analysis by selecting a curve in the diagram (figure 1) to re-start a single anal-ysis action contained in the test definition. Instead of the macros, select the analysis contained in the test definition which is now listed after expanding the lower part of the list box (figure 5).

Fig. 5: Interactive analysis using the analysis actions of a test definition.

This routine is also used to develop and optimize a new analysis action before starting the test.

Presentation of analysis results in the report

The analysis result of an automated test as well as any other infor-mation is easily presented in a report window. Use the ‘Data’ icon to add an analysis result to a report window.

Fig. 6: Add data element to reportChoose the parameters presented in figure 7 to show the analysis short result text. By using the placeholder <next test> the report is up to date with the results of the latest measurement.

Fig. 7: Parameters of the data element to show the analysis short result

How RheoCompass™ experts define analysis macros

As a RheoCompass™ expert you may ask yourself how to define your own analysis macro. This is easily done within the ‘Macro Designer’ of RheoCompass™. Let me give you an example. Let’s assume you are in the main category ‘Project’ of RheoCom-pass™ and a measuring curve in the diagram is selected for anal-ysis of the interpolated viscosity at the shear rate 25s-1 (see figure 1). There are pre-defined macros listed in each project, filtered by the test type of the project, but the one you are looking for is missing.

For creating your own macro you should open the main category ‘RheoFinder’, expand ‘More’ and select

the item ‘Macros (for analysis)’.

Next click ‘New’ in the ribbon ‘Home’ in order to create a new macro. Insert an existing Anton Paar macro from the ribbon ‘Analysis’ (click the expander to see the list of pre-defined analysis macros). Check ‘incompatible’ to disable fil-tering if the macro you are looking for is not part of the list.

Now click ‘Convert to steps’ to see the single analysis steps of the Anton Paar macro. Some macros only contain one step.

In this example the original macro consists of two steps. Step one is the interpolation itself and step two is used to format the result-ing data and to define the variables for the final result.Change the parameters of the macro, e.g. from shear rate 10s-1 to 25s-1 (figure 8).

Fig. 8: Editing parameters of the analysis steps.

Now enter the macro name, e.g. ‘Interpolation, shear rate 25s-1’ in the tab ‘Macro’. The name can be changed at any time in the RheoFinder (figure 9). In the RheoFinder you even have the option to assign a test type to the macro for further filtering, which is used in most projects.

Fig. 9: Saving a new analysis macro as your own macro.

The macro is then available for interactive analysis in the project as presented in figure 1.

Conclusion

RheoCompass™ offers convenient and flexible options to perform analysis.