Noncontact technique for determining viscosity from the shape relaxation of ultrasonically levitated and initially elongated drops

We present a technique that can determine the viscosity of highly viscous liquids, particularly, undercooled liquids that exist at temperatures below their freezing points. The technique involves levitation of a liquid drop using an ultrasonic standing wave, and elongation of the drop by rotating it beyond the point of bifurcation. The elongated drop is then allowed to be restored to its original shape by surface tension driven relaxation. The time-dependent shape parameters of the relaxing drop are related to the viscosity through a relaxation model. In addition, this technique can also determine the surface tension that has a known relationship with the angular velocity at the bifurcation point. The feasibility of the technique is demonstrated by performing the measurement using sucrose solutions as a model liquid drop. The obtained viscosity values show a good correlation with those determined by a falling ball method.