Viscosity range

Liquid viscosity is one of the most difficult properties to calculate with accuracy, yet it has an important role in the calculation of heat transfer coefficients and pressure drop. No single method is satisfactory for all temperature and viscosity ranges. We will distinguish three cases for pure hydrocarbons and petroleum fractions ... 

Commercially available algiaates dissolve ia hot or cold water to produce solutioas with viscosities ranging from a few to several huadred mPa-s(= cP). The actual viscosity depeads oa the molecular weight and calcium content of the algiaate. 

Decomposition temperatures are in the range of 360—375°C and inherent viscosities range from 0.62 to 0.90 dL/g in cone H2SO4. The polymers are insoluble in DMAC. 

Wide range of viscosity ia commercial petroleum oils is illustrated by the representative types listed ia Table 3. Despite this range, the largest proportion of oils are ia the 25-75 mm /s at 40°C viscosity range. Oils ia this range combine generally adequate hydrodynamic load capacity with low power loss, low volatiUty, and satisfactory low temperature properties. 

Properties provided by the branched hydrocarbon chain stmcture of these PAO fluids include high viscosity index in the 130—150 range, pour points of —50 to —60° C for ISO 32 to 68 viscosity range (SAE lOW and SAE 20W, respectively), and high temperature stabifity superior to commercial petroleum products. In their use in automotive oils such as Mobil 1, some ester synthetic fluid is normally included in the formulation to provide sufficient solubihty for the approximately 20% additives now employed in many automotive oils. 

Oils in Greases. Essentially the same type of oil is used in compounding a grease as would normally be selected for oil lubrication. Petroleum oils are used in about 99% of the grease produced and commonly are in the SAE 20—30 viscosity range with about 100 130 mm /s viscosity at 40°C. Such oils provide low volatiHty for long life at elevated temperatures (50) together with low torque down to subzero temperatures. 

Pig. 13. Blending quaHties with different impellers (A, turbines B, anchors C, heHcals) for different viscosity ranges. 

LDPE homopolymers in the 0.2—150 melt index or 100, 000 20,000 mPa s(= cP) viscosity range. Specialty polymers such as greases and waxes or highly cross-linked polymers are not included. 

To solve a flow problem or characterize a given fluid, an instmment must be carefully selected. Many commercial viscometers are available with a variety of geometries for wide viscosity ranges and shear rates (10,21,49). Rarely is it necessary to constmct an instmment. However, in choosing a commercial viscometer a number of criteria must be considered. Of great importance is the nature of the material to be tested, its viscosity, its elasticity, the temperature dependence of its viscosity, and other variables. The degree of accuracy and precision required, and whether the measurements are for quaUty control or research, must be considered. The viscometer must be matched to the materials and processes of interest otherwise, the results may be misleading. 

The original Ostwald viscometer has been modified in many ways, and a number of different versions are on the market (Table 4) (21). Most are available with a wide choice of capillary diameters and therefore a number of viscosity ranges. A number of viscometers are described in ASTM D445, which also Hsts detailed recommendations on dimensions and methods of use. 

Approximate constant, Viscosity range, mm /s CapiHarv diameters. mm ... 

Viscometer Price a range Viscosity range, mPa-s (= cP) Shear rate capability. Temperature control Manufacturer... 

Brookfield has introduced a new digital cone—plate viscometer in two versions. The CAP 1000 is a single speed instmment (12,000 or 3, 000 with 60 Hz current) that upgrades the ICl cone—plate design (ASTM D4287). The CAP 2000 is a multispeed viscometer with a viscosity range of 1 15, 000 mPa-s. This instmment covers a wide range of shear rates (166-26, 600 ) and complements the low shear WeUs-Brookfield viscometer. 

The ICI cone—plate device is a simple, iaexpensive, one-speed iastmment designed for routine determination of paint viscosities at a shear rate comparable to that of bmshing or sprayiag (12, 000 at 60 H2 and 10, 000 at 50 H2) (180,181). The viscosity range at that shear rate is limited to 5-1000 mPa-s. A wider-angle cone allows measurement to 10, 000 mPa-s, but at a lower shear rate of 3, 000. A lower shear rate version (600 )... 

The Nametre Rotary B rotational viscometer measures torque in terms of the current needed to drive the d-c motor at a given speed while a material is under test. The standard sensors are coaxial cylinders or Brookfield disk-type spindles, but a cone—plate system is also available. The viscosity range for the coaxial cylinder sensors is 5 to 5 x 1(T mPa-s, and the maximum shear rate is 200. ... 

The Ravenfield model BS viscometer is a wide shear rate range iastmment with several possible measurement systems cone—plate, parallel plates, concentric cylinders, and taper plug. The last gives shear rates of up to 10 , and the cone—plate of up to 8 x lO". The viscosity range is... 

The Weissenberg Rheogoniometer (49) is a complex dynamic viscometer that can measure elastic behavior as well as viscosity. It was the first rheometer designed to measure both shear and normal stresses and can be used for complete characteri2ation of viscoelastic materials. Its capabiUties include measurement of steady-state rotational shear within a viscosity range of 10 — mPa-s at shear rates of, of normal forces (elastic... 

With appropriate caUbration the complex characteristic impedance at each resonance frequency can be calculated and related to the complex shear modulus, G, of the solution. Extrapolations to 2ero concentration yield the intrinsic storage and loss moduH [G ] and [G"], respectively, which are molecular properties. In the viscosity range of 0.5-50 mPa-s, the instmment provides valuable experimental data on dilute solutions of random coil (291), branched (292), and rod-like (293) polymers. The upper limit for shearing frequency for the MLR is 800 H2. High frequency (20 to 500 K H2) viscoelastic properties can be measured with another instmment, the high frequency torsional rod apparatus (HFTRA) (294). 

The RMS-800 provides steady-shear rotational rates from 10 to 100 rad/s and oscillatory frequencies from 10 to 100 rad/s. An autotension device compensates for expansion or contraction. With the standard 25- and 50-mm parallel plates, the viscosity range is 50-10 mPa-s, and the shear modulus range is 8 x 10 to 10 N/m. These ranges can be expanded with nonstandard plates, cones, and a Couette system. The temperature range is 20-350°C (-150 0 optional). 

High purity sulfur with low ash and organic content is desirable. If the raw sulfur is in soHd form, it is first melted and filtered or otherwise treated for purification. Liquid sulfur must be handled between the melting point (132°C) and about 150°C to avoid its pecuflar high viscosity range (see Sulfur). 

The viscosity range of CN products can be adjusted in advance by choosing the starting cellulose with an appropriate degree of polymerization (DP). A study of the different celluloses examined the impact of various cellulose properties, such as morphological factors (percent crystallinity, fiber length, and distribution), chemical composition (DP, ash content), and hemiceUulose and lignin content, on the nitration behaviors of cellulose (55). 

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