Acoustic wave viscosity sensor

Abstract
An acoustic wave device utilizing plate modes having components of displacement parallel to a crystal surface has been demonstrated to be an effective sensor of liquid shear viscosity (η) over a wide viscosity range. When a liquid is present on the sensor surface, the propagation loss of the acoustic wave depends upon η in a calculable fashion. Because the device functions at 159 MHz, liquid relaxation effects occur with high viscosity liquids, causing the propagation loss to saturate. Viscosity is sampled in the 50‐nm‐thick liquid layer which couples to the acoustic wave, so that only a single drop of liquid is required for measurement.

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