Use of Torsional Acoustic Resonators for Microweighing, Polymer Rheology, and Monitoring of Biofilm Formation

The work describes the use of readily available and economical quartz crystal torsional resonators for microweighing. The resonance behavior was probed by impedance analysis. Torsional resonators are straightforwardly adapted to the detection electronics usually employed for driving a quartz crystal microbalance. The analysis proceeds as with quartz crystal resonators. The measurement of the viscoelastic parameters of a silicone oil gave results consistent with the corresponding low-frequency data. Thickness determinations on a film formed from a polymer dispersion have confirmed that torsional resonators indeed function as microbalances when the sample is thin enough. Biofilm formation is easily monitored, as well.