Hydrocarbon Viscosities and Composition

From these examples, it can be seen that almost invariably among isomers the n-alkane has the lowest viscosity at both 40°C and 100°C. The table below (Table 2.5) demonstrates that when aromatic compounds which have a total of three or more aromatic rings are hydrogenated, the perhydro- products are of lower viscosity than the aromatic types—this is particularly true when polyaromatic hydrocarbons are hydrotreated without cracking or isomerization. In contrast, 

Name Formula Carbon Number Viscosity, cSt at 40°C Viscosity, cSt at 100°C Reference 

Sources Properties of Hydrocarbons of High Molecular Weight, Research Project 42, 1940-1966, American Petroleum Institute, New York J. Denis, The Relationship Between Structure and Rheological Properties of Hydrocarbons and Oxygenated Compounds Uses as Base Stocks, Journal of Synthetic Lubricants, vol. 1(1—3) 201—238 (1984) J. W. Nederbragt and J. W. M. Boelhouwer, Viscosity Data and Relations of Normal and Iso-Paraffins, Physica Xlll(6-7) 305-318 (1947) R. T. Sanderson, Viscosity-Temperature Characteristics of Hydrocarbons, Industrial Engineering Chemistry 41(2) 368-374 (1949). With permission. 

Source Properties of Hydrocarbons of High Molecular Weight, Research Project 42, 1940-1966, American Petroleum Institute, New York. With permission. 

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