Viscoelasticity analysis

Viscoelastic analysis allows us to study the mechanical behavior of materials that exhibit both elastic properties, characteristic of a solid, and viscous properties, typical of a fluid. This dual nature is essential for understanding how a product responds to stress, whether slow, rapid, cyclic, or oscillatory. This analysis is widely used in the cosmetics, food, polymer materials, and animal nutrition sectors, as well as in applications involving gels, creams, pastes, or deformable materials.

Issues and principles of viscoelastic analysis

Viscoelastic properties directly influence the texture, stability, formability, mechanical strength, sensory qualities, and durability of a material in its end use. Understanding these parameters allows us to anticipate product behavior under real-world conditions: application to the skin, extrusion, pumping, mixing, spreading, or even mechanical vibration. Viscoelastic analysis makes it possible to identify the elastic or viscous dominance of a material, determine its behavior based on the frequency of stress application, and observe the evolution of its properties with temperature and over time.

Analytical methods: rheometry and DMA

The reference technique for studying viscoelasticity is oscillatory rheometry. Using a rheometer, an oscillatory stress is applied to the material, allowing the measurement of two fundamental parameters: the elastic modulus G', which reflects the material's capacity to store energy, and the viscous modulus G'', which reflects energy dissipation as creep. The phase angle δ indicates whether the material behaves more like a solid or a fluid. Other parameters such as the yield strength, loss factor, and mechanical transitions can also be determined.

Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) complements the analysis by applying dynamic stress to solid or semi-solid materials to study their behavior as a function of temperature, frequency, or time. It allows for the characterization of mechanical transitions, the evaluation of relaxation temperatures, and the study of aging or embrittlement of polymers.

Matrices analyzed and industrial applications

Viscoelasticity analysis is applicable to a wide variety of products. In human food, it is used to evaluate the texture of gels, pastes, confectionery, and extruded products. In cosmetics, it provides information on the consistency, stability, and sensory qualities of creams, gels, balms, and lotions. In polymers, it helps to understand the behavior of molten materials, their extrusion properties, and their mechanical resistance at temperature. It can also be used for foams, flexible adhesives, technical formulations, and products with a high solids content.

Manufacturers use it to optimize formulations, compare batches, improve product stability, or adapt manufacturing processes. Analysis also helps correlate mechanical data with sensory perceptions, a key advantage in the food and cosmetics sectors.

YesWeLab Support

YesWeLab works with a network of specialized laboratories in rheology, mechanical characterization, and materials analysis, recognized for their expertise and accredited according to current standards, including ISO 17025 and COFRAC. Thanks to our digital platform, manufacturers can centralize their analyses, track the progress of their samples, retrieve their results, and benefit from the support of our scientific team. We work with you to determine the most suitable protocol, select the relevant test parameters, and help you interpret the results in the context of your formulation, production, or quality control challenges.

Since 2020, YesWeLab has been supporting numerous manufacturers, formulators, design offices and industrial companies in the food, cosmetics and polymer sectors in their viscoelastic analysis needs.

Other analyses from the YesWeLab catalogue

• Complete rheological analysis
• Apparent viscosity measurement
• Powder cohesion determination
• Material stability and aging studies