Physical testing
Density meter
Measures the density or specific gravity of a liquid in about a minute, using a vibrating glass U-tube. It replaces the pycnometer for most routine work.
- Pharmaceutical
- Food & beverage
- Spirits & brewing
- Chemicals
- Petrochemicals
TROUBLESHOOTING
Common problems, causes and fixes
Water check reads high
Likely causes
- • Residue or deposit in the tube
- • Bubble in the tube
- • Water not pure or not degassed
What to do
- • Clean the tube thoroughly and dry
- • Refill slowly; check the camera
- • Use fresh, freshly boiled and cooled purified water
Air reading does not match
Likely causes
- • Tube not dry
- • Solvent vapour still in the tube
What to do
- • Dry longer with the air pump
- • Rinse with a volatile solvent, then dry
Unstable readings
Likely causes
- • Bubbles forming as the sample warms
- • Temperature not stable
- • Vibration from nearby equipment
What to do
- • Degas the sample
- • Wait for temperature stability
- • Move the instrument away from vibration sources
Results higher than expected for a thick syrup
Likely causes
- • Viscosity effect not corrected
What to do
- • Turn on viscosity correction or use a method designed for viscous samples
Duplicates disagree
Likely causes
- • Sample not mixed
- • Particles settling in the tube
What to do
- • Mix before filling
- • Filter if the method allows, or use another technique
In LimsPulse · Calibration Management
Keep every Density meter in control: usage logs, calibration and maintenance schedules, and automatic blocking of overdue instruments.