Sensors 2012, 12(5), 6497-6507; doi:10.3390/s120506497
Article

Using Micromechanical Resonators to Measure Rheological Properties and Alcohol Content of Model Solutions and Commercial Beverages

Rosemary Paxmanemail, Jake Stinsonemail, Anna Dejardinemail, Rachel A. McKendryemail and Bart W. Hoogenboom* email
London Centre for Nanotechnology, Departments of Physics, Chemistry, and Medicine, University College London, 17-19 Gordon Street, London WC1H 0AH, UK
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 22 March 2012; in revised form: 11 May 2012 / Accepted: 14 May 2012 / Published: 16 May 2012
(This article belongs to the Section Chemical Sensors)
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Abstract: Micromechanic resonators provide a small-volume and potentially high-throughput method to determine rheological properties of fluids. Here we explore the accuracy in measuring mass density and viscosity of ethanol-water and glycerol-water model solutions, using a simple and easily implemented model to deduce the hydrodynamic effects on resonating cantilevers of various length-to-width aspect ratios. We next show that these measurements can be extended to determine the alcohol percentage of both model solutions and commercial beverages such as beer, wine and liquor. This demonstrates how micromechanical resonators can be used for quality control of every-day drinks.
Keywords: micromechancical sensors; cantilevers; rheological properties; alcohol contents; quality control

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Cite This Article

MDPI and ACS Style

Paxman, R.; Stinson, J.; Dejardin, A.; McKendry, R.A.; Hoogenboom, B.W. Using Micromechanical Resonators to Measure Rheological Properties and Alcohol Content of Model Solutions and Commercial Beverages. Sensors 2012, 12, 6497-6507.

AMA Style

Paxman R, Stinson J, Dejardin A, McKendry RA, Hoogenboom BW. Using Micromechanical Resonators to Measure Rheological Properties and Alcohol Content of Model Solutions and Commercial Beverages. Sensors. 2012; 12(5):6497-6507.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Paxman, Rosemary; Stinson, Jake; Dejardin, Anna; McKendry, Rachel A.; Hoogenboom, Bart W. 2012. "Using Micromechanical Resonators to Measure Rheological Properties and Alcohol Content of Model Solutions and Commercial Beverages." Sensors 12, no. 5: 6497-6507.

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