The ViscoStar viscometer, now available from Wyatt Technology, is a new generation of online differential viscometer which incorporates a traditional four-arm “bridge” design. It combines high accuracy with contemporary electronics and can be integrated with Wyatt’s Multi-Angle Light Scattering (MALS) detectors and ASTRA software to benefit the biotechnology, pharmaceutical and medical device industries. According to the company, the ViscoStar is the only viscometer that can measure intrinsic viscosity across the peaks of monodisperse samples, providing truly accurate readings for the first time. The instrument incorporates a high efficiency heat exchange to offer extremely stable baselines, and achieves at least 2x the signal-to-noise ratio of any commercial viscometers currently on the market. Additionally, it features a Transducer Protection System (TPS), which protects sensitive transducer membranes from accidental damage. The ViscoStar viscometer incorporates a number of “firsts” and state-of-the-art functionality, including:
- Advanced Peltier temperature control (4°C to 60°C) eliminates the need for an external water bath, and allows the ViscoStar to operate at the same temperatures as the HPLC separation.
- Proprietary band-broadening correction algorithm integrated in the ASTRA software solves the longstanding problem of inter-detector band broadening.
- Pump pulses are greatly reduced by the ASTRA software-based pulse dampening correction algorithm. ASTRA is the most powerful and versatile macromolecular characterization software available able to collect simultaneously data from MALS, RI, UV, QELS, Viscometer, and more. ASTRA is also 21 CFR Part 11 compliant for regulated labs.
- User-selectable delay volumes (4, 8 and 15mL) eliminate the need to re-plumb the instrument when a different solvent is chosen.
- Standard features include 18 bit A/D resolution, USB and Ethernet communications, and a full color LCD-based user interface.
- External signals for zero, purge and recycle are accepted by the ViscoStar.