ASTM D445

Many petroleum products, and some non-petroleum materials, are used as lubricants, and the correct operation of the equipment depends upon the appropriate viscosity of the liquid being used. In addition, the viscosity of many petroleum fuels is important for the estimation of optimum storage, handling, and operational conditions. Thus, the accurate determination of viscosity is essential to many product specifications.

1. Scope

1.1 This test method specifies a procedure for the determination of the kinematic viscosity, , of liquid petroleum products, both transparent and opaque, by measuring the time for a volume of liquid to flow under gravity through a calibrated glass capillary viscometer. The dynamic viscosity, , can be obtained by multiplying the kinematic viscosity, , by the density, , of the liquid. Note 1For the measurement of the kinematic viscosity and viscosity of bitumens, see also Test Methods D 2170 and D 2171.

ISO 3104 corresponds to Test Method D 445.

1.2 The result obtained from this test method is dependent upon the behavior of the sample and is intended for application to liquids for which primarily the shear stress and shear rates are proportional (Newtonian flow behavior). If, however, the viscosity varies significantly with the rate of shear, different results may be obtained from viscometers of different capillary diameters. The procedure and precision values for residual fuel oils, which under some conditions exhibit non-Newtonian behavior, have been included.

1.3 The range of kinematic viscosities covered by this test method is from 0.2 to 300 000 mm²/s (see Table A1.1) at all temperatures (see and ). The precision has only been determined for those materials, kinematic viscosity ranges and temperatures as shown in the footnotes to the precision section.

1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.

This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

2. Referenced Documents

D1193 Specification for Reagent Water
D1217 Test Method for Density and Relative Density (Specific Gravity) of Liquids by Bingham Pycnometer
D1480 Test Method for Density and Relative Density (Specific Gravity) of Viscous Materials by Bingham Pycnometer
D1481 Test Method for Density and Relative Density (Specific Gravity) of Viscous Materials by Lipkin Bicapillary Pycnometer
D2162 Practice for Basic Calibration of Master Viscometers and Viscosity Oil Standards
D2170 Test Method for Kinematic Viscosity of Asphalts (Bitumens)
D2171 Test Method for Viscosity of Asphalts by Vacuum Capillary Viscometer
D446 Specifications and Operating Instructions for Glass Capillary Kinematic Viscometers
D6071 Test Method for Low Level Sodium in High Purity Water by Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy
D6074 Guide for Characterizing Hydrocarbon Lubricant Base Oils
D6617 Practice for Laboratory Bias Detection Using Single Test Result from Standard Material
E1 Specification for ASTM Liquid-in-Glass Thermometers
E77 Test Method for Inspection and Verification of Thermometers
ISO 17025 General Requirements for the Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories
ISO 3104 Petroleum Products-Transparent and Opaque Liquids-Determination of Kinematic Viscosity and Calculation of Dynamic Viscosity
ISO 3105 Glass Capillary Kinematic Viscometers-Specification and Operating Instructions
ISO 3696 Water for Analytical Laboratory Use-Specification and Test Methods
ISO 5725 Accuracy (trueness and precision) of measurement methods and results.
ISO 9000 Quality Management and Quality Assurance Standards-Guidelines for Selection and Use
NIST GMP 11
NIST Special Publication 819
NIST Technical Note 1297, Guideline for Evaluating and Expressing the Uncertainty of NIST Measurement Results

Index Terms

dynamic viscosity; kinematic viscosity; viscometer; viscosity; ICS Number Code 17.060; 75.080; 17.060; 75.080

Citing ASTM Standards

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