By Authority Of

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Legally Binding Document

By the Authority Vested By Part 5 of the United States Code 552(a) and
Part 1 of the Code of Regulations 51 the attached document has been duly
INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE and shall be considered legally binding
upon all citizens and residents of the United States of America. HEED THIS
NOTICE: Criminal penalties may apply for noncompliance.

e
Document
Name: CFR
Section(s):
Standards Body:

Official Incorporator:
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OFFICE
OF THE FEDERAL REGISTER
WASHINGTON, D.C.

~~l~

Designation:

American National Standard Zl 1.107-1965

American National Standards lnstitute

O 445 - 65 Reapproved (1970)

Method 305.6-Federal Test

Method Standard No. 791 b

Designation: 71 /66

Standard Method of Test for

VISCOSITV OF TRANSPARENT ANO OPAQUE LIQUIDS (KINEMATIC ANO

DVNAMIC VISCOSITI ES)1
This Standard is issued under the fixed designation D 445; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.
A number in parentheses indicates the year o last reapproval. This is also a standard of the lnstitute of Petroleum issued under the fixed designation IP 71. The final number indicates the year of
last revision.
This method was adopted as a joint ASTM-IP standard in 1964.

l. Scope
l. l This method covers the determination of the kinematic viscosity of
liquid petroleum products (Notes 1 and 2), both transparent and opaque,
by measuring the time of flow of a fixed volume of liquid at a given
tempera ture through calibrated glass capillary instru ments, using "gravityflow." A procedure is given for a calculation of dynamic viscosities from
measured kinematic viscosities.

liquid, both at the same temperature. The cgs unit of dynamic viscosity is
the poise, P, which has the dimensions grams per centime ter per second.
3. Summary of Method
3.1 The time is measured for a fixed vol ume of the liquid to ftow
through the capillary viscometer under an accurately reproducible head and
at a closely controlled temperature. The kinematic viscosity is then
calculated from the measured fiow time and the calibra tion constant of the
viscometer.

NOTE 1Bitumens are excepted; for the similar measurement of their viscosity,
see
2
ASTM Method D 2170, Test for Kinematic Viscosity of Asphalts, and ASTM
Method D 2171, Test for Absolute Vis cosity of Asphalts.2
NOTE 2The method is intended for use with
liquids, in which the rate of shear is proportional to
the shearing stress (Newtonian flow). The propor
tionality constant is the coefficient of viscosity. With certain products which
exhibit "gellike" be
havior, care must be taken that measurements are made at sufficiently high
temperatures for such materials to flow freely so that similar results will be
obtained in viscometers of different capillary
diameters.

4. Apparatus
4.1 Viscometers, calibrated glass capillary type, capable of measuring
viscosity within the limits of repeatability and reproducibility given in
Section 10 are acceptable. Those vis cometers listed in Table 1 meet these
require ments.

2. Definitions
2.1 kinematic viscosity-a measure of the time for a fixed volume of
liquid to flow by gravity through a capillary. The cgs unit of kinematic
viscosity is the stoke which has the dimensions centimeterssquared per second.
In the petroleum industry kinematic viscosity is usually expressed in
centistokes, cSt, so that 1
St = 100 cSt.
2.2 dynamic oiscosity (sometimes called
absolute viscosity) is numerically the product of kinematic viscosity and
the density of the

NOTE 3The calibration constant,

C, is depend ent upon the gravitational
acceleration at the place of calibration and this must, therefore, be supplicd by the
standardization
laboratory together with thc instrument constant. Where the
acceleration of gravity, g, in the two locations differs by more than
1
This method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Corn mittee D2 on Petroleum Products and
Lubricants. A list of members may be found in the ASTM Yearbook.
Current edition effective Aug. 31, 1965. Originally is
sued 1937. Replaces D 445 65.
In the IP, this method is under the jurisdiction o the
Standardization Committee.
In 1965, the appended material describing viscometers
was deleted. Other editorial changes were made to take
care2 of comments from the Institute of Petroleum.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Part 11.

184

0.1 percent,
lows:

correct

the calibration

constant

D 445
5. Standardization

as fol

C2 = (g2/g1) X Ci

where the subscripts 1 and 2 indicate respectively

the standardization laboratory and the testing labo
ratory.
NOTE 4Specifications for these viscometers are
described in ASTM Specification D 2515, for Kine
matic Glass Viscometers.3

4.2 Viscometer Holders or Frames to ena

ble the viscometer to be suspended securely in
the bath in the same vertical position as when
calibrated, using a plum bline or accurate
level.
4.3 Viscometer Thermostat-Any transpar
ent liquid or vapor bath of sufficient depth
such that at no time during the measurement
will any portian of the sarnple in the viscome
ter be less than 20 mm below the surface of
the bath liquid or less than 20 mm above the
bottom of the bath may be used. The temper
ature control must be such that for the range
of 60 to 212 F (15 to 100 C) the ternperature
of the bath medium <loes not vary by more
than 0.02 F (0.01 C) over the length of the vis
cometers, or between the position of each vis
cometer, or at the location of the thermome
ter. For temperatures outside this range, the
variation must not exceed 0.05 F (0.03 C).
4.4 Temperature-Measuring
Device-Suitable liquidinglass Kinematic Viscosity Test
Thermometers,
covering the range of test
temperatures indicated in Table 2, as speci
fied in ASTM Specification E 1, for ASTM
Thermorneters," and in the IP requirements
for IP Standard Thermometers; make certain
that they have been standardized before use
(see Section 5). Any other thermometric de
vice is permissible provided that the same
accuracy can be obtained.
4.5 Timing Device-Any device may be
used provided it is graduated in divisions rep
resenting not more than 0.2 s and has an accu
racy of at least 0.05 percent when tested
over intervals of 15 min. A stop watch or
other springactuated timer is permissible.
Also, electrical timing devices may be used
when the current frequency is controlled to an
accuracy of O.O l percent or better.
NoTE 5Alternating currents as provided by
sorne public power systems are intermittently, not
continuously, controlled; when used to actuate elec
trical timing devices, such intermittent control can
cause large errors in viscosity flow time measure
ment.

5.1 Viscometers-Only calibrated viscorne

ters shall be used.
5.2 Thermometers-Routine
liquidinglass
thermometers should be checked to the near
est 0.02 F (0.01 C) by direct comparison with
a suitable standardized thermometer. Kine
matic Viscosity Test Thermometers shall be
standardized at "total immersion" which
means immersion to the top of the mercury
column, with the remainder of the stem and
the expansion chamber at the top of the ther
mometer exposed to room temperature; do
not submerge the expansion bulb at the top of
the thermometer. It is essential that the ice
point of standardized thermometers be deter
mined before use and the official corrections
be adjusted to conform to the change in ice
point,
5.3 Timers-ln the United States of Arner
ica, time signals as broadcast by the National
Bureau of Standards, Station WWV, Wash
ington, D. C., at 2.5, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and
35 MHz are a convenient and prirnary stand
ard reference for calibrating timing devices;
the signals are broadcast 24 h daily. Station
CHU from Ottawa, Canada, at 3.330, 7.335
and 14.670 MHz or Station MSF at Rugby,
United Kingdom, at 2.5, 5 and 10 MHz may
be received better in sorne locations.
6. Procedure for Kinematic Viscosity

6.1 The specific details of operation vary

for the different types of viscometers listed in
Table l. In ali cases, however, proceed in ac
cordance with 6.1.l through 6.1.9.
6.1. l Ascertain that the thermometer has
been standa~dized recently; new therrnorne
ters may require checking every week.
6.1.2 Maintain the bath at the test temper
ature within the limits given in 4.3. Apply the
necessary corrections, if any, to all thermome
ter readings.
6. L3 Select a clean, dry, calibrated viscom
eter which will give a fow time not less than
the mnimum specified for the viscometer, or
200 s, whichever is the greater.
6.1.4 Charge the viscometer (Note 6) in the
manner dictated by the design of the instru
rnent, this operation being in conformity with
3
4

185

Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Part 17.

Am111a/ Book of ASTM Standards, Parts 18 and 30.

that employed when the instrument

was cali
brated. Should the sample contain solid parti
eles, filter during charging through a No. 200
(74m) sieve.
NOTE 6The viscosity of steamrefined cylinder
oils, black lubricating oils, residual fuel oils, and
similar waxy products can be affec~ed by the ~re
vious thermal history. The followmg preheatmg
procedure should be followed to obtain uniform re
sults for viscosities below 200 F (95 C).
To obtain a representative sample, heat the sam
ple in the original con~ainer to about 122 F (50 C)
with stirring and shakmg. Probe t~e bottom of the
container with a rod to be certam that ali waxy
materials are in solution. Pour 100 mi into a 125ml
Erlenmeyer flask, Stopper Joosely with a cork or
rubber stopper. Immerse the flask in a bath of boil
ing water for 30 min. Mix well, remove the sample
from the bath, and strain it through a No. 200 ( 7~
m) screen directly into the viscomete~ alr~ady m
the thermostated bath. Complete the vscosty test
within l h after preheating.

6.1.5 Allow the charged viscometer to re

main in the bath long enough to reach the test
temperature. Because this time will vary for
the different instruments
and for different
temperatures,
establish a safe temperature
equilibrium time by trial. Where the design of
the viscometer requires it, adjust the volume
of the test sample after the sample has
reached temperature equilibrium.
6.1.6 When the temperature of the test is
below the dew point, fit loosely packed drying
tubes onto the open ends of the viscometer to
prevent water condensation. Drying tubes
must fit the design of the viscometer and not
restrict the flow of the sample under test by
pressures created in the instrument. At tem
peratures below 32 F (O C), it may be advisa
ble to charge the sample into the viscometer
at ambient temperature; allow the viscometer
to cool to bath temperature, keeping sample
in the working capillary to prevent slight ac
cumulation of frost on the walls of the capil
lary.
6.1.7 Use suction (if the sample contains no
volatile constituents) or pressure to adjust the
head level of the test sample to a position in
the capillary arm of the instrument about 5
mm ahead of the first timing mark.
6.1.8 With the sample flowing freely, meas
ure in seconds, to within 0.2 s (see 4.5), the
time required for the meniscus to pass from
the first timing mark to the second. lf this
flow time is less than the specified mnimum
(see 6.3), select a viscometer with a capillary
thoroughly with distilled water and acetone,
and dry with clean dry air. Inorganic deposits

of smaller diameter and repeat the operation.

6.1.9 For modified Ostwald and suspended
level types, repeat the procedure described in
6.1.7 and 6.1.8 making a second measurement
of the flow time. If two measurements agree
within 0.2 percent, use the average for calcu
lating the reported kinematic viscosity. For
reverseflow types, duplicate determinations
must be made; flow times should agree within
0.35 percent. lf these agreements are not ob
tained, reject the test results.
7. Procedure for Dynamic Viscosity
7 .1 Determine the kinematic viscosity as
described in Section 6.
7.2 Determine the density of the sample, in
grams per milliliter, at the same temperature
as the viscosity, in accordance with the follow
ing applicable methods:
7.2.1 ASTM Method D 941, Test for Den
sity and Specific Gravity of Liquids by Lipkin
3
Bicapillary Pycnometer,
7.2.2 ASTM Method D 1481, Test for
Density and Specific Gravity of Viscous Ma
terials by Lipkin Bicapillary Pycnometer,5
7 .2.3 IP Method 189, Specific Gravity and
Density, Graduated Bicapillary Pyknometer
Method,
7.2.4 ASTM Method D 1217, Test for
Density and Specific Gravity of Liquids by
3
Bingham Pycnometer,
7 .2.5 ASTM Method D 1480, Test for
Density and Specific Gravity of Viscous Ma
terials by Bingham Pycnometer,5
7.2.6 IP Method 190, Specific Gravity and
Density, CapillaryStoppered Pyknometer
Method, or
7.2.7 IP Method 733, Density Bottles.
8. Cleaning of Viscometer
8.1 Between
successive determinations,
clean the viscometer thoroughly by several rins
ings with an appropriate solvent completely
miscible with the sample, followed by a corn
pletely volatile solvent. Dry the tube by pass
ing a s~ow stream of filtered dry air through
the viscometer for 2 min or until the last trace
of solvent in removed.
8.2 Periodically clean the instrument with
chromic acid to remove organic deposits, rinse
5

Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Part 18.

may be removed by hydrochloric acid treat . .

ment 'before use of cleaning acid, particularly
if barium salts are suspected.

8.3 Viscometers used far silicone ftuids,

ftuorocarbons, and other liquids which are
difficult to remove by the use of a cleaning
agent, should be reserved far the exclusive use
of those ftuids except when standardizing.
Such viscometers should be subjected to
standardization checks at frequent intervals.

density, g/cm3_ (Note 6) at sarne temper

ature as kinematic viscosity, and
v = kinematic viscosity, cSt.

p =

NOTE 6~It is permissible to use density in g/ml

instead of g/cm3 The 12th General Conference on
Weights and Measures in November 1964 rede
fined the liter so that 1 mi is exactly l cm", The lat
ter unit is preferred far expressing precise vol ume
measurements.

9.3 Report both the viscosity and the tem

perature of test.

9. Calculations and Report

9.1 Calculate the kinematic viscosity.as fol
lows:
Kinematic viscosity, cSt

10. Precision

Ct

10. l The following precisron applies to

clean, transparent oils tested between 60 and
212 F (15 to 100 C):
10.1.1 Repeatability-Duplicate results by
the same operator, using the same or different
viscometers, should not be considered suspect
unless their difference is greater than 0.35
percent of theirmean. .
10.1.2 Reproducibility-The
results sub
mitted by each of two laboratories should not
be considered suspect unless their difference is
greater than O. 7 percent of their mean.

where:
C= calibration constant of the viscometer,
cSt/s, and
t = ftow time, s.
9.2 Calculate the dynarnic viscosity as fol
lows:
Dynamic viscosity, cP

p ,

where:
TABLE 1

Viscometer Types
Range, cSt"

Test Viscometers

A. Suspended Leve! Types for Transparent Liquids:

l. BS/IP Suspended Leve)
,

2
to
0,6 to
o. 6 to
0.4 to
0.8 to
0.4 to
O. 5 to
0.4 to

2. BS/IP Suspended Level, Shortened Forrn

3 . BS/IP Minature Suspended Level
4. Ubbelohde

5. FitzSmons
6. Atlantic
7. CannonUbbelohde
8, CannonUbbelohde SemiMicro
B. Modified Ostwald Types for Transparent Liquids:

1. CannonFenske Routine

2. Zeitfuchs
3. BS/IP UTube
4. BS/JP Ulube Miniature
5. SIL
6. CannonManning SemiMicro
7. Pinkevitch
C. ReverseFlow Types for Transparent
1. CannonFenske Opaque

and Opaque

0.4
0.6
0.7
60

2. Zeitfuchs CrossArm
3. BS/IP UTube Reverse Flow

4. LantzZeitfuchs
Each range quoted

requires a series

Liquids:

0.2 to
0.8 to
0.9 to
0.2 to
0.8 to
0.4 to
0.6 to

~f viscometers.

100 000
10 000

600

100 000
1 200
100 000
100 000
100 000

20 000
3 000
10 000
100

10 000

20 000
15 000

to 20
to 100
to300
to 100

000
000
000
000

~m~
TABLE 2

Kinematic Viscosity Thermometers

Temperature Range
degF
67. 5 to 62. 5
61 to 29
42.5 to 37.5
2.5 to +2.5
29 to 35
66. 5 to 71. 5
74.5 to 79.5
97. 5 to 102. 5
119.5 to 124.5
127.5 to 132.5
137.5 to 142.5
177.5 to 182.5
197 to 203
91
207.5 to 212.5
272.5 to 277.5

ForTests at
degF

deg C
55.3 to -52.5
51.6 to 34
41.4 to 38.6
19.2 to 16.4
2 to +2
18. 6 to 21.4
23.6 to 26.4
36.6 to 39.4
48.6 to 51.4
52.5 to 56.5
58 to 62

to 95
98.6

to 101.4

D 445

65

60 to

degF

deg C
30

40

32
68 and 70
77
100
122
130
140
180
200

Subdivisions

53.9
51 to 35
40
17.8

0.1

20 and 21. 1
25
37.8
50
54.4

60

93.3
210 and 212 98.9 and 100
275

o.

0.1
0.2
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1

O. 1

degC
0.05
0.1
0.05
0.05
0.05
0.05
0.05
0.05
0.05
0.05
0.05
0.05

0.05

Thermometer Number
ASTM

IP

74 F
43 F
73 F
72 F
67

69 F or C
65 F ore
68 F or C

44 F

45
28
46
29
47
48

F
F
F
F
F

30 F
110 F

F ore
33 F
29 F
30 F
31 F
66 F
34 F
35 F

ore
ore
ore
ore
ore
or C
or C

36 F ore
32 F ore

APPENDIX

Al.

CALIBRATION OF VISCOMETERS

Al.1 Reference Materials

viscosity standard" or a routine viscometer of the

same type that has been calibrated by comparison
with a master viscometer. Mount the standard vis
cometer together with the viscometer to be cali
brated in the same bath and determine the fl.ow
times of the ol in accordance with Section 6.
A 1.2.2.3 Calculate the constant C as follows:

A 1.1.1 Viscosity Oil Standards, conforming to

ASTM viscosity oil standards having the approxi
mate kinematic viscosity shown in Table Al. Certi
fied kinematic viscosity values are established by
cooperative tests and are supplied with each sarnple.
Al.2 Calibration
Al.2. l Using Liquid Standards-Select
from
Table Al a liquid standard having a minimum flow
time of 200 s at the calibration temperature
(preferably 100 F) and a viscosity in excess of the
minimum shown in Table l. Determine the flow
time to the nearest 0.2 s in accordance with Section
6, and calculate the viscometer constant, C, as fol
lows:

e= v/t
where:
v = viscosity, cSt, for the standard liquid, and
t = flow time, s.
Al.2.2 Using Standard Viscometers:
A 1.2.2. l Select any petroleum oil that will have
a flow time of at Jeast 200 s in both the standard
and tobestandardized viscometers; sorne viscome
ters, as Jisted in Table l, require that the oil have a
viscosity in excess of the minimum shown in order
that the kinetic correction7 will be Jess than 0.2 per
cent.
Al.2.2.2 Select a standard viscometer of known
constant C. This viscometer may be a master vis
cometer that has been calibrated by the "stepup"
procedure using vscometers of successively larger
diameters starting with distilled water as the basic

188

C1 = (t2 X C2)/t1

where:
C1

t1
C2
/2

=
=
6

C constant of the viscometer being calibrat

ed,
fl.ow time to the nearest 0.2 s in the viscome
ter being calibrated,
C constant of the standard viscometer, and
fl.ow time to the nearest 0.2 s in the standard
viscometer.

The viscosity standards are available in lpt contain

ers. See Table Al. Purchase orders should be addressed to
the Cannon lnstrument Co., P.O. Box 16, State College,
Pa. 16801. Shipment will be made as specified or by best
mea7 ns.
Cannon, M. R., "Derivation of Viscosity Equation and
Sources of Error in Viscometry;" Private Report No. 1 to
ASTM Subcommittee on Viscosity, February 1950. Can
non, M. R., and Manning, R. E., "Vtscostty Measure
ment, The Kinetic Energy Correction," Prvate Report
No. 2 to ASTM Subcommittee on Viscosity, April 1959.
Copies available free of charge from The Cannon Instru
ment
8 Co., P.O. Box 16, State College, Pa. 16801.
For a procedure for calibrating master viscometers, see
ASTM Method D 2162, Test for Basic Calibration of Mas
ter Viscometers and Viscosity Ol 1 Standards, Annual
Book of ASTM Standards, Part 17.

~~l~

D 445

TABLE Al Viscosity Standards

Viscosty
Standard Con
forrning to ASTM
Standards

Approximate Kinematic Vscosty, cSt

At20C
(68 F)

189

At25 C
(77 F)

At 30 e At 37.78 e At50C
(86 F)
(100 F)
(122 F)

At 53.89 At40
( 65F)
S3
S6
S20
S60
S200
S600
S2000
S8000
S30 000

300

40
80

At 98.89
(210
F)

F)

4.6
10
44
160
700
2500
9000
38 000

4.0
9.0
35
120
480
1600
5700
22 000

05 000

3.0
6.0
20
60
200
600
2000
8000
27 000

280
11 000

1.2
1.8
3.9
7.7
16
32
76