Chapel Hill, North Carolina USA
Rheology Testing Services
Precise Rheology Testing. Clear Answers. Expert Interpretation.
Understanding how your material behaves under stress, strain, shear, and temperature is essential for developing reliable, high-performing products. Rheology Testing Services (RTS) provides custom rheological assays, rapid turnaround, and expert guidance to help R&D teams, formulators, and manufacturers solve problems, optimize formulations, and confidently move projects forward.
With over 30 years of rheology and pharmaceutical development experience, RTS delivers the scientific rigor of a top-tier laboratory - without the bureaucracy, delays, or one-size-fits-all approach of large CROs.
What We Deliver
RTS is built for teams who value accuracy, clarity, and efficiency.
Scientific rigor backed by decades of expertise
Responsive, collaborative communication
Custom assay plans tailored to your material and goals
Rapid turnaround without corporate delays
Detailed, decision-ready reports
Flexible support for projects of all sizes
Cost-effective solutions for complex technical challenges
How Rheology Supports R&D and Manufacturing
Rheological insights play a critical role across multiple stages of product development and commercialization. RTS regularly supports clients in:
If your material spreads, pumps, mixes, coats, clings, sets, rebuilds, or flows, rheology can help you understand and optimize it.
Research & Development thru Manufacturing
Sensory and performance assessments
Formulation optimization
Quality control and QbD (Quality by Design)
Process development & scale-up
In-process monitoring
Batch consistency & stability evaluation
Proving or disproving equivalence for regulatory or IP needs (Q3)
A Partner for Technical Clarity - Especially When Problems Arise
Many RTS clients say the same thing: “We should have reached out earlier. Understanding the rheology would have changed our specs and saved significant time.” Whether you're exploring a new formulation, diagnosing instability, evaluating manufacturing changes, or navigating unknowns, rheological analysis is an efficient investment with a potentially large return. Even a single targeted assay can provide clarity that prevents costly revisions or regulatory delays. RTS specializes in helping teams who are unsure which assays they need, unsure what is happening in their material, or facing “Houston, we have a problem” situations. You do not need to arrive with a perfectly defined scope, we help you determine it.
Focused Expertise You Won’t Find at Large CROs
Unlike large Contract Research Organizations (CROs) or CDMOs that offer rheology as one small part of a broad service menu, RTS is dedicated to rheological science. Clients consistently appreciate:
Highly personalized, senior-level interaction
Real-time flexibility during testing
Strategic guidance based on real-world experience
Clear explanations of what the results mean for your product
From academic research groups and startups to global manufacturers, RTS adapts to the needs of every project without unnecessary complexity.
Our Rheology Capabilities
RTS uses a Kinexus Pro rheometer and a suite of advanced methods to measure viscosity, viscoelasticity, tribology, adhesion/cohesion, surface tension, and more. We perform both standard and customized assays, including:
Rotational viscosity & flow curves
Shear rate and shear stress ramps
Yield stress & yield viscosity
Oscillatory amplitude sweeps (LVER & stability)
Frequency sweeps (viscoelasticity)
Temperature sweeps
Thixotropy and structural rebuilding
Tribology (friction)
Surface tension & interfacial behavior
 Kinenus Pro |  Kinexus Pro rheometer upper plate |  Kinexus Pro rheometer |
|---|---|---|
 Kinexus rheometer |  Lotion within plates |  Pull away with gliiter |
 Pull away |
Assays can be connected in creative ways to simulate realistic processing conditions — pumping, mixing, heating/cooling cycles, rest periods, and more.
Commonly Requested Assays
Below is a simplified overview of several frequently requested assays and how they support decision-making.
01
Viscosity with Shear Rate Ramp
Viscosity is a foundational metric but only one part of a full rheological profile. A shear rate ramp measures viscosity across a wide range of conditions, revealing how the material behaves during spreading, mixing, pumping, or application.
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Newtonian materials show stable viscosity
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Non-Newtonian materials often shear thin
These curves help model real-world processes and evaluate batch-to-batch consistency.
02
Yield Stress with Shear Stress Ramp
Yield stress defines the point at which a material begins to flow. It affects pumpability, spreadability, sedimentation potential, and overall feel.
Examples:
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Honey flows at very low yield stress
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Peanut butter requires far more force
RTS routinely uses yield stress analysis to evaluate stability and predict application performance.
03
Amplitude Sweep for LVER & Stability
An amplitude sweep gradually increases deformation to determine the Linear Viscoelastic Region (LVER) - the range where the material maintains structural integrity.
Larger LVER values generally correspond to higher physical stability.
This assay is essential for selecting proper test conditions for subsequent frequency sweeps.
04
Frequency Sweep for Viscoelasticity
A frequency sweep quantifies how a material behaves across a spectrum of “movement speeds,” from slow spreading to high-impact forces.
Useful measurables include:
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G’ (elastic/solid-like behavior)
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G’’ (viscous/liquid-like behavior)
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Phase angle
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Complex viscosity
Tan delta
Understanding viscoelasticity helps predict how gels, creams, suspensions, semisolids, and engineered materials perform under real-world stress.
A Straightforward, Collaborative Process
Working with RTS is simple and efficient:
01
Discuss goals & challenges
We help define the most relevant assays.
02
Develop a custom test plan & provide detailed quote
Tailored to your material and data needs.
03
Perform assays with rapid turnaround
No backlog or corporate delays.
04
Deliver detailed report
Including interpretation and recommendations.
05
Follow-up discussions to ensure understanding results and implications
Refine, optimize, or troubleshoot as needed.
Clients value the direct communication and strategic support at every step.
Testimonials
RTS has supported hundreds of R&D teams across pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food, materials engineering, and biomaterials. Clients frequently highlight responsiveness, clarity, scientific depth, and a true partnership approach.
Get Expert Rheology Support
Whether you're troubleshooting, refining a formulation, evaluating processing conditions, or simply need to understand how your material behaves, Rheology Testing Services provides the clarity and scientific insight to move your project forward.
Request a consultation to discuss your material and objectives.
