Properties: Viscosity of Gases and Vapors

The curves for hydrocarbon vapors and natural gases in the Viscosity of various gases
chart at the upper right are taken from Maxwell; the curves for
all other gases (except helium) in the chart are based upon
Sutherlandʼs formula, as follows:

( )( )
Viscosity of Various Gases
O2
µ = µo 0.555 To + C T ⁄2
3
.040
Helium
0.555 T + C To

where:
Air
.036
N2

µ = viscosity, in centipoise at temperature T.

CO2
SO2

µo = viscosity, in centipoise at temperature To.

.032

T = absolute temperature, in degrees Rankine (460 + deg. F)

for which viscosity is desired.

m – Viscosity in Centipose
.028 Sg = .5 HYDRO

To = absolute temperature, in degrees Rankine, for which

CARBON
NH3

viscosity is known.
VAPOR
CO Sg = .75 AND
NATURAL
Sg =1.00

C = Sutherlandʼs constant.
.024 GASES

Note: The variation of viscosity with pressure is small for most

gases. For gases given on this page, the correction of viscosi-
.020

ty for pressure is less than 10% for pressures up to 500 pounds

per square inch.
H2
.016

Approximate
Fluid Values of “C”
.012

O2 127
Air 120
N2 111
.008
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000

CO2 240
CO 118
t – Temperature in Degrees Fahrenheit

SO2 416
NH3 370
H2 72

Upper chart example: The viscosity of sulphur dioxide gas

Viscosity of Refrigerant Vapors

(SO2) at 200°F (93°C) is 0.016 centipoise.

(saturated and superheated vapors)
.019

Lower chart example: The viscosity of carbon dioxide gas

CO
2
.018

(CO2) at about 80°F (26.7°) is 0.015 centipoise.

.017

.016
SO
2

.015

.014 F-12

.013 F-11
CI
4 CH 3
.012 F-11
3
F-11
.011

.010

.009

.008 NH 3

.007
-40 0 40 80 120 160 200 240

t – Temperature in Degrees Fahrenheit

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