Home >> Science & Nature >> Science

How to Measure Viscosity at Elevated Temperatures

Viscosity refers to the relative density or thickness of fluids, gases, pastes, gels and emulsions. Viscosity is absolutely contingent on temperature and should never be stated without it, according to The Physics Hypertextbook. For example, the fluids in your vehicle freeze in winter making them thicker and slower to circulate, whereas, in warmer summer temperatures, fluids become thinner and consequently more fluid. Most liquids have average viscosity's approximately 1 to 1000 millpascal seconds (mPa s), whereas gases have viscosity's of about 1 to 10 mPa s.

Things You'll Need

Viscometer
Computer

Instructions

- 1
  Obtain a viscometer that has a temperature control feature like the M-VROC, for example. Download the related viscometer software necessary to run the program on your computer. Connect the viscometer to your computer following the software prompts included with the viscometer.
- 2
  Load a sample of the liquid or substance that you wish to measure the viscosity of in the syringe in the viscometer. Mount the syringe in the machine as indicated and secure the lid on the viscometer.
- 3
  Record the sample identification, flow-rate, sample volume, measuring time and temperature into your computer as prompted by the viscometer's software program. Follow the programs prompts to save the data as it is recorded on your computer from the viscometer concerning substance and temperature. Experiment and record the variations of viscosity with relation to temperature by digitally raising or lowering the internal platinum thermometer temperature of the viscometer.

Science