An introduction to dynamic, absolute and kinematic viscosity and how to convert between

CentiStokes (cSt), CentiPoises (cP), Saybolt Universal Seconds (SUS), degree Engler

The viscosity of a fluid is an important property in the analysis of liquid behavior and fluid
motion near solid boundaries.

The viscosity is the fluid resistance to shear or flow and is a measure of the
adhesive/cohesive or frictional fluid property. The resistance is caused by intermolecular friction
exerted when layers of fluids attempt to slide by one another. Viscosity is a measure of a fluid's
resistance to flow. The knowledge of viscosity is needed for proper design of required temperatures
for storage, pumping or injection of fluids.

There are two related measures of fluid viscosity - known as dynamic (or absolute) and
kinematic viscosity.

Dynamic (absolute) Viscosity is the tangential force per unit area required to move one horizontal
plane with respect to the other at unit velocity when maintained a unit distance apart by the fluid.

The shearing stress between the layers of non turbulent fluid moving in straight parallel lines can be
defined for a Newtonian fluid as:

The dynamic or absolute viscosity can be expressed like

τ = μ dc/dy (1)

where

τ = shearing stress

μ = dynamic viscosity

Equation (1) is known as the Newtons Law of Friction.

In the SI system the dynamic viscosity units are N s/m2, Pa s or kg/m s where

• 1 Pa s = 1 N s/m2 = 1 kg/m s

The dynamic viscosity is also often expressed in the metric CGS (centimeter-gram-second) system
as g/cm.s, dyne.s/cm2 or poise (p) where

• 1 poise = dyne s/cm2 = g/cm s = 1/10 Pa s

For practical use the Poise is to large and it's usual divided by 100 into the smaller unit called the
centiPoise (cP) where

• 1 p = 100 cP

Water at 68.4oF (20.2oC) has an absolute viscosity of one - 1 - centiPoise.

Kinematic Viscosity is the ratio of absolute or dynamic viscosity to density - a quantity in which no
force is involved. Kinematic viscosity can be obtained by dividing the absolute viscosity of a fluid
with it's mass density

ν=μ/ρ (2)

where

ν = kinematic viscosity

μ = absolute or dynamic viscosity

ρ = density

In the SI-system the theoretical unit is m2/s or commonly used Stoke (St) where

• 1 St = 10-4 m2/s

Since the Stoke is an unpractical large unit, it is usual divided by 100 to give the unit called
Centistokes (cSt) where

• 1 St = 100 cSt
• 1 cSt = 10-6 m2/s

Since the specific gravity of water at 68.4oF (20.2oC) is almost one (1), the kinematic viscosity of
water at 68.4oF is for all practical purposes 1.0 cSt.

Viscosity and Reference Temperatures

The viscosity of a fluid is highly temperature dependent and for either dynamic or kinematic
viscosity to be meaningful, the reference temperature must be quoted. In ISO 8217 the reference
temperature for a residual fluid is 100oC. For a distillate fluid the reference temperature is 40oC.

• For a liquid - the kinematic viscosity will decrease with higher temperature
• For a gas - the kinematic viscosity will increase with higher temperature

Other Commonly used Viscosity Units

 Saybolt Universal Seconds (or SUS, SSU)

Saybolt Universal Seconds (or SUS) is used to measure viscosity. The efflux time is Saybolt
Universal Seconds (SUS) required for 60 milliliters of a petroleum product to flow through the
calibrated orifice of a Saybolt Universal viscometer, under carefully controlled temperature and as
prescribed by test method ASTM D 88. This method has largely been replaced by the kinematic
viscosity method. Saybolt Universal Seconds is also called the SSU number (Seconds Saybolt
Universal) or SSF number (Saybolt Seconds Furol).
Kinematic viscosity versus dynamic or absolute viscosity can be expressed as

ν = 4.63 μ / SG (3)

where

ν = kinematic vicosity (SSU)

μ = dynamic or absolute viscosity (cP)

SG = Specific Gravity

 Degree Engler

Degree Engler is used in Great Britain as a scale to measure kinematic viscosity. Unlike the
Saybolt and Redwood scales, the Engler scale is based on comparing a flow of the substance being
tested to the flow of another substance - water. Viscosity in Engler degrees is the ratio of the time of
a flow of 200 cubic centimetres of the fluid whose viscosity is being measured - to the time of flow
of 200 cubic centimeters of water at the same temperature (usually 20oC but sometimes 50oC or
100oC) in a standardized Engler viscosity meter.

Newtonian Fluids

Fluids for which the shearing stress is linearly related to the rate of shearing strain are
designated as Newtonian Fluids.

Newtonian materials are referred to as true liquids since their viscosity or consistency is not
affected by shear such as agitation or pumping at a constant temperature. Fortunately most
common fluids, both liquids and gases, are Newtonian. Water and oils are examples of Newtonian
liquids.

Shear-thinning or Pseudoplastic Liquids

Shear-thinning or pseudoplastic liquids are those whose apparent viscosity decreases

with increasing shear rate. Their structure is time-independent.

Thixotropic Fluids

Thixotropic liquids have a time-dependent structure. The apparent viscosity of a thixotropic

liquid decreases with increasing time, at a constant shear rate. Ketchup and mayonnaise are
examples of thixotropic materials. They appear thick or viscous but are possible to pump quite
easily.

Dilatant Fluids

Shear Thickening Fluids or Dilatant Fluids increase their viscosity with agitation. Some of
these liquids can become almost solid within a pump or pipe line. With agitation, cream becomes
butter and Candy compounds, clay slurries and similar heavily filled liquids do the same thing.

Bingham Plastic Fluids

Bingham Plastic Fluids have a yield value which must be exceeded before it will start to
flow like a fluid. From that point the viscosity will decrease with increase of agitation. Toothpaste,
mayonnaise and tomato catsup are examples of such products.

Example - Converting between Kinematic and Absolute Viscosity for Air

Kinematic viscosity of air at 1 bar (105 Pa, N/m2) and 40oC is 16.97 cSt (16.97 10-6 m2/s).

The density of air estimated with the Ideal Gas Law

ρ =p/RT

Where

ρ = density (kg/m3)

p = absolute pressure (Pa, N/m2)

R = individual gas constant (J/kg K)

T = absolute temperature (K)

ρ = (105 N/m2) / ((287 J/kg/K) (273 oC + 33 0C)

= 1.113 kg/m3

Absolute viscosity can be expressed as

μ = (1.113 kg/m3) (16.97 10-6 m2/s)

= 1.88 10-5 (kg/m s, Ns/m2, P)

Kinematic viscosity can be converted from SSU to Centistokes like

νCentistokes = 0.226 νSSU - 195 / νSSU

where

νSSU < 100

νCentistokes = 0.220 νSSU - 135 / νSSU

where

νSSU > 100

Viscosity and Specific Gravity of some Common Liquids

centiStokes Saybolt Second Universal

Typical liquid
(cSt) (SSU, SUS)

1 31 Water (20oC)

Milk
4.3 40 SAE 20 Crankcase Oil
SAE 75 Gear Oil

15.7 80 No. 4 fuel oil

20.6 100 Cream

43.2 200 Vegetable oil

SAE 30 Crankcase Oil

110 500
SAE 85 Gear Oil

Tomato Juice
220 1000 SAE 50 Crankcase Oil
SAE 90 Gear Oil

440 2000 SAE 140 Gear Oil

Glycerine (20oC)
1100 5000
SAE 250 Gear Oil

2200 10,000 Honey

6250 28,000 Mayonnaise

19,000 86,000 Sour cream

Viscosity and Temperature

Kinematic viscosity of liquids like water, mercury, oils SAE 10 and oil no. 3 - and gases like
air, hydrogen and helium are indicated below. Note that

• for liquids viscosity decreases with temperature

• for gases viscosity increases with temperature
Absolute and kinematic viscosity of AIR at temperatures ranging -40 - 1000 oC (-40 - 1500 oF)
at standard atmospheric pressure - Imperial and SI Units
1 N s/m2 = 1 Pa s = 10 poise = 1,000 milliPa s
2 1 m2/s = 1 x 104 cm2/s =1 x 104 stokes = 1 x 106 centistokes
Viscosity and Density (Metric SI Units)
In the SI system of units the kilogram (kg) is the standard unit of mass, a cubic meter is the
standard unit of volume and the second is the standard unit of time.
Density p
The density of a fluid is obtained by dividing the mass of the fluid by the volume of the fluid.
Density is normally expressed as kg per cubic meter.
p = kg/m3
Water at a temperature of 20°C has a density of 998 kg/m3
Sometimes the term ‘Relative Density’ is used to describe the density of a fluid.
Relative density is the fluid density divide by 1000 kg/m3
Water at a temperature of 20°C has a Relative density of 0.998
Common Dynamic or Absolute Viscosity Units
 1 Pascal second (Poiseuille) = 1000 Centipoise
 1 Pascal second (Poiseuille) = 10 Dyne second / centimetre2
 1 Pascal second (Poiseuille) = 0.0102 Gram force seconds / centimetre2
 1 Pascal second (Poiseuille) = 10 Gram / centimetre second
 1 Pascal second (Poiseuille) = 0.102 Kilogram force seconds / metre2
 1 Pascal second (Poiseuille) = 3600 Kilogram / metre hour
 1 Pascal second (Poiseuille) = 1 Kilogram / metre second
 1 Pascal second (Poiseuille) = 107 Micropoise
 1 Pascal second (Poiseuille) = 1 Newton Second / metre2
 1 Pascal second (Poiseuille) = 10 Poise
 1 Pascal second (Poiseuille) = 0.0209 Pound force seconds / ft2
 1 Pascal second (Poiseuille) = 0.000145 Pound force seconds / in2
 1 Pascal second (Poiseuille) = 2419.1 Pound / foot hour
 1 Pascal second (Poiseuille) = 0.672 Pound / foot second
 1 Pascal second (Poiseuille) = 0.056 Pound / inch second
 1 Pascal second (Poiseuille) = 0.672 Poundal seconds / ft2
 1 Pascal second (Poiseuille) = 0.000145 Reyn
 1 Pascal second (Poiseuille) = 0.0209 Slugs / foot second

Dynamic Viscosity ì
Viscosity describes a fluids resistance to flow. Dynamic viscosity (sometimes referred to as
Absolute viscosity) is obtained by dividing the Shear stress by the rate of shear strain.
The units of dynamic viscosity are: Force / area x time
The Pascal unit (Pa) is used to describe pressure or stress = force per area
This unit can be combined with time (sec) to define dynamic viscosity.
ì = Pa•s
1.00 Pa•s = 10 Poise = 1000 Centipoise
Centipoise (cP) is commonly used to describe dynamic viscosity because water at a
temperature of 20°C has a viscosity of 1.002 Centipoise.
This value must be converted back to 1.002 x 10-3 Pa•s for use in calculations.
Kinematic Viscosity v
Sometimes viscosity is measured by timing the flow of a known volume of fluid from a
viscosity measuring cup. The timings can be used along with a formula to estimate the kinematic
viscosity value of the fluid in Centistokes (cSt). The motive force driving the fluid out of the cup is
the head of fluid. This fluid head is also part of the equation that makes up the volume of the
fluid.
Rationalizing the equations the fluid head term is eliminated leaving the units of
Kinematic viscosity as area / time
v = m2/s
1.0 m2/s = 10000 Stokes = 1000000 Centistokes
Water at a temperature of 20°C has a viscosity of 1.004 x 10-6 m2/s
This evaluates to 1.004000 Centistokes.
This value must be converted back to 1.004 x 10-6 m2/s for use in calculations.
The kinematic viscosity can also be determined by dividing the dynamic viscosity by the fluid
density.

Kinematic Viscosity and Dynamic Viscosity Relationship

Kinematic Viscosity = Dynamic Viscosity / Density
v=ì/p
Centistokes = Centipoise / Density
To understand the metric units involved in this relationship it will be necessary to use an
example:
Dynamic viscosity ì = Pa•s
Substitute for Pa = N/m2 and N = kg• m/s2
Therefore ì = Pa•s = kg/(m•s)
Density p = kg/m3
Kinematic Viscosity = v = ì/p = (kg/(m•s) x 10-3) / (kg/m3) = m2/s x 10-6

Dynamic Viscosity ì
The units of dynamic viscosity are: Force / area x time
ì = lb•s/ft2
Water at a temperature of 70°F has a viscosity of 2.04 x 10-5 lb•s/ft2
1.0 lb•s/ft2 = 47880.26 Centipoise

Kinematic Viscosity v
The units of Kinematic viscosity are area / time
v = ft2/s
1.00 ft 2/s = 929.034116 Stokes = 92903.4116 Centistokes
Water at a temperature of 70°F has a viscosity of 10.5900 x 10-6 ft2/s
(0.98384713 Centistokes)

Kinematic Viscosity and Dynamic Viscosity Relationship

Kinematic Viscosity = Dynamic Viscosity / Density
v=ì/p
The imperial units of kinematic viscosity are ft2/s
To understand the imperial units involved in this relationship it will be necessary to use an
example:
Dynamic viscosity ì = lb•s/ft2
Density p = slugs/ft3
Substitute for slug = lb/32.174 ft•s2
Density p = (lb/32.174 ft•s2)/ft3= (lb/32.174•s2)/ft4
Note: slugs/ft3 can be expressed in terms of lb•s2/ft 4
Kinematic Viscosity v = (lb•s/ft2)/(slugs/ft3)
Substitute lb•s2/ft 4 for slugs/ft3
Kinematic Viscosity v = (lb•s/ft2 )/(lb•s2/ft4) = ft2/s
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