Viscosity by Different Instruments

VISCOSITY CONVERSION TABLES

Viscosity is the physical property of a fluid that offers internal resistance to
flow. There are various instruments, called viscometers, for measuring viscosity.
The most widely used viscometers in th e United States are the kinematic and the Saybolt Universal.
The Engler viscometer is generally used in continental Europe and
the Redwood viscorneters are commonly used in England.

Because of these differences, interchange of technical inforITlation ITlakes it

n e cessary to provide tables for converting viscosities froIn one type to another.

SAYBOLT UNIVERSAL VISCOSITY

SAYBOLT FUROL VISCOSITY

UNIVERSAL

The Saybolt Viscometer consists essentially of a cylindrical brass cup in thebottorn of whichis an orifice of specified dimensions. Surrounding the brass cup is a constant
temperature bath.
When the sample in the cup reaches test
temperature the time required for 60 ml of the liquid to run
through the orifice is measured. A calibrated standard
flask collects the liquid sample.
The unit of measure is time in seconds; it is reported
as Saybolt Universal Seconds (SUS); for example, 350 SUS
at 100 F.

FUROl

The Saybolt Furol Viscometer is the same in principle

as the Universal Viscometer with the exception that it is
designed with a larger orifice to accommodate more viscous
fluids.
The unit of measure is also time in seconds required
for 60 Inl of fluid to flow through the orifice at a given temperature.

KINEMA TIC VISCOSITY

The
contained
capillary
and at a
viscosity

time is measured for a fixed volume of sample,

in a glass viscometer, to flow through a calibrated
Wlder an accurately reproducible head of liquid
closely controlled temperature. The kinematic
is calculated from the measured efflux time.

The unit of kinematic vi~cosity is the centistoke (cs).

The measurement in seconds is taken and then converted by
the viscometer constant for the final answer.
Kinematic Viscosity =
Ct
C
= viscometer constant
t
observed flow time in seconds

REDWOOD VISCOSITY NO. I - UNIVERSAL

REDWOOD VISCOSITY NO.2 - ADMIRALTY

The Redwood No. 1 apparatus consists of a cylindrical .

brass oil cup that holds the test sample. Test temperature
is adjusted by means of a bath surrounding the oil cup. The
bottom of the oil cup is designed with a polished-agate discharge tube containing an orifice of specified dimensions
(tube, 10 rom long and 1.62 rum in diameter), The time for
50 nil of the sample to flow through the orifice is measured.
A calibrated receiving flask is provided to receive the sample.
Redwood viscometers No.1 and No.2 are the same in
principle. The Redwood No.2 instrument is designed with a
larger discharge tube; it is 50 mm long and 3.80 rnm in
diameter.
The methods of testing a sample are the same. The
receiving flasks used in both methods are similar. However.
the Redwood No. 2 flask is de signed with a larger mouth than
that of the No. 1 flask.
Test results are reported in seconds, stating which
viscometer was used and the test temperature (for example,
Viscosity Redwood No.1 at 140 F, 350 seconds).

No.1
No.2

ENGLER VISCOSITY

The Engler apparatus consists essentially of a cylindrical discharge container of brass (interior gold plated),
the bottom of which is spherical; a small discharge tube is
firmly fixed in the center of the bottom. The small tube is
coated with nickel and accurately calibrated. The Engler orifice tapers from 2.9 to 2.8 rnm in its 20 mm of length. A
wide-mouthed collecting flask is supported exactly beneath
the orifice. The discharge chalTIber is surrounded by a
second concentric brass container (water bath).
The unit of measure is the Engler degree (E). The flow
time in seconds obtained for 200 rol of test liquid at the prerecorded measuring temperature (for example, 20 C or
50 C) is divided by the flow time of ZOO ml of distilled water
at 20 C.
(
Flow time 200 ml of liquid at + C
Flow time 200 ml of distilled water at 20 C

-Low Range
EQUIVALENT VISCOSITIES AT 100 F.
ASTM
Kinematic
Viscosity
Centistokes

Saybolt
Universal,
Seconds

32.62

39. 14

45.56

52.09

10

58.91

12

66.04

14

73. 57

16

Viscosity
Grade

IO%
SUS*

32

Saybolt
Furol,
Seconds

Engler
Degrees
I.

Redwood
Standard
No. I
Seconds

1195

1.3075

36 .5

1.4805

41. 9

1.6535

47.6

1.834

53.5

2.023

59.6

2.222

66.1

81.30

2.435

72.7

18

89.44

2.646

79.6

20

97.77

2.876

86.6

3.11

93.9

40

60

75

Redwood
Admiralty
No.2
Seconds

22

106.4

24

115.0

3.35

101. 3

26

123.7

3.59

108.8

28

132.5

3.83

116.4

30

141. 3

4.08

124.0

32

150.2

4.33

13 1. 9

34

159.2

4.58

139.9

36

168.2

4.84

147.6

(16.2)

38

177.3

(5.09

153.6

(16.9)

40

186.3

5.35

163 .5

105

150

(13.9)

( ) Parentheses means approximate.

* Tentative nominal viscosity grades at 100 F. Each grade permits a maximUITl
range of 10 percent of the nominal viscosity.
Note: Centipoises are obtained by multiplying Kinematic Centistokes by specific gravity

-High Range
EQUIVALENT VISCOSITIES AT 100 F.

Viscosity
Centistokes

Saybolt
Universal.
Seconds

42
44
46
48
50

195.3
204.4
213.7
222.9
232.1

55
60
65
70
75

255.2
278.3
301.4
324.4
347.6

80
85
90
95
100

370.8
393.9
417.1
440.3
463.5

110
120
130
140
150

509.8
556.2
602.5
648.9
695.2

160
170
180
190
200

741.6
787.9
834.2
880.6
926.9

220
240
260
280
300

1019.6
112.3
1205.0
1297.7
1390.4

320
370
464
500
680
(1000)
1510

KineITlatic

ASTM
Viscosity
Grade
I 00/.
SUS'

Saybolt
Furot,
Seconds

Engler
Degrees

Redwood
Standard
No.1
Seconds

Redwood
Admiralty
No.2
Seconds

26.3

5.61
5.87
6.12
6.38
6.64

171. 6
179.7
187. 7
195. 7
203.8

(20.0)
(20.7)
(21.4)

28.72
30.9
32.9
35.0
37.5

7.30
7.95
8.61
9.26
9.92

224. 1
244.5
264.7
285.1
306

(23.4)
(25.6)
(27.8)
(30.0)
31.8

465

40.0
42.0
44.3
46.5
48.5

10.57
11. 23
11. 89
12.54
13.20

326
346
367
387
408

33.8
35.8
37.7
39.7
41.7

700

54
58
63
67
72

14.52
15.84
17. 16
18.48
19.80

449
490
530
571
612

45.7
49.6
53.7
57.7
61. 7

77
82
86
90
95

21.12
22.44
23.76
25.08
26.40

653
702
734
775
816

65.7
69.8
73.8
77.9
81.9

1000

104
114
123
133
143

29.04
31.68
34.32
36.96
39.60

898
979
1061
1142
1224

90.0
98. 1
106. 2
114.4
122.5

1483.1
1714.8
2155.1
2317.4

1500

153
175
220
238

4a,.24
48.84
61.25
66.00

1306
1510
1893
2040

130.7

3150.0
4650
7000

3150
4650
7000

(325)
(465)
(700)

89.76
(133)
199.3

2774
(4050)
616

215

315

2150

204.3
(280)