LIQUID MIXTURE VISCOSITIES

Introduction and Theory:

Liquid viscosities are needed by process engineers for quality control, while
design engineers need the property for fixing the optimum conditions for the
chemical processes and operations as well as for the determination of the
important dimensionless groups like the Reynolds number and Prandtl
number. Liquid viscosity is also important in the calculation of the power
requirements for the unit operations such as mixing, pipeline design, it
cetera.
The flow characteristics of liquids are mainly dependent on the viscosity and
are broadly divided into Newtonian, when the viscosity of a liquid remains
constant and is independent of the applied shear stress. And Non-Newtonian,
when liquids, viscosity depend on the applied shear force and time.
Viscosity is a fundamental characteristic property of all liquids. When a
liquid flows, it has an internal resistance to flow. Viscosity is a measure of
this resistance to flow or shear. Viscosity can also be termed as a drag force
and is a measure of the frictional properties of the fluid. Viscosity is a
function of temperature and pressure. In this experiment students will deal
with the viscosity of pure liquids such as glycerin and water and its change
as function of temperature. As well as student will exam the viscosity of
mixture solution (glycerin + water) and its change as a function of mole
fraction and temperature changes.
Viscosity is expressed in two distinct forms absolute or dynamic viscosity
and kinematic viscosity.
Dynamic viscosity is the tangential force per unit area required to slide one
layer against another as when these two layers are maintained at a unit
distance. In another words, the viscosity of a fluid is defined as the measure
of how resistive the fluid is to flow, and it can be described as:
Shear stress = * (Strain or shear rate)
=
where is the dynamic viscosity
is shear stress and
is strain rate
From the definition of the is strain rate

(1)

(2)

where x is the distance,

t is the time, and
dx/dt is the velocity v.
Therefore, the dynamic viscosity can be written as
=

(3)

While kinematic viscosity requires knowledge of density of the liquid ( ) at

that temperature and pressure and is defined as
!
=!
(4)
Consider a Newtonian fluid laminar flow through a glass cylindrical
capillary tube (viscometer) of diameter r and length l, as shown in Fig. 1
with no slip at the wall of a pressure difference P between the two ends and
the fluid is subjected to a force F.
Then the viscosity may be calculated by applying Newtons Law of
viscosity.

r
F
R
P1
l

P2

!"
!"

(5)

make a force balance on the cylindrical element.

2 = !

(6)

Substitute the above Eq 6 into share stress Eq 5 yields

!"
!"

= !!"

(7)

Integration of Eq. (7), using the boundary condition that at the wall of the capillary v(R) = 0, gives
=

!(! ! !! ! )
!!"

(8)

Equation 8 shows that the velocity distribution through the capillary tube is parabolic,
hence the total flow rate can be estimated by
!
2
!

(9)

By combining Eqs 8&9

=
=

! !!!

! !!"
!!! !
!!"

! !

(10)
(11)

The above equation is known as Poiseuilles equation and it can be used for calculation
of viscosity when using a capillary viscometer. For vertical tube arrangement
which is the case for the capillary viscometer we use in this experiment, the hydrostatic
pressure, gh , depends on the height, h, of the liquid. Therefore, the pressure difference,
p , in terms of hydrostatic pressure is given by
=

(12)

If we know the volume (V) of the liquid dispensed during the experiment and the time (t) required for
this volume of liquid to flow between two graduation marks in a viscometer,

!
!

(13)

by substituting eqs 12 & 13 into eq 11

=

!"!! !
!!"

(14)

By assuming
=

!"!! !

Eq14 will become

(15)

!!"

=
And the Kinematic viscosity is

(16)

(17)

where C is the viscometer constant (mm2/sec2)

Students may calculate the viscometer constant C at a different temperatures other than
those at the viscometers were calibrated by using the following equation
= ! (1 + ( ! )

(18)

where C0 the viscometer constant when filled and tested at T0 (room temperature)
B the temperature depending factor
C0, T0, and B can be fond in the Viscometer certification paper.
There has been no comprehensive theory on the viscosity of liquids so far because of its
complex nature. However there are small number of semi-empirical and empirical
methods provide reasonable results such as those proposed by Kirkwood et al.44
Where at temperatures below the normal boiling point, the logarithm of liquid viscosity
varies linearly with the reciprocal of the absolute temperature as described below
!

ln = + !
(19)
where, A & B are constants and can be determined empirically.
However, when the temperatures above the normal boiling point, the ln versus (1/T)
relationship becomes nonlinear and in this case a number of semi empirical equation are
needed.
While for mixture viscosity the following equation proposed by Panchenkov which is
basis on the mechanism of the flow of viscous liquid.
!

! =

( ) !
! !! (!)

exp

!
!"

! = + ! (1 )
where
m
is the mixture viscosity,

(20)

As
m
T
m
R
x

Mg

is an empirical coefficient,
is the density of the mixture,
is the absolute temperature,
is the energy of bonds between the molecules in the mixture, and
is the universal gas constant.
is the mole fraction
is the density
molecular wt of glycerin = 92.09 g

Please note that

The quantities As and m of the eq (20) must be evaluated from the mixture viscosity data,
and therefore at least viscosity of the mixture at two conditions must be known for the
application of this method with good accuracy.

Apparatus and Method

1.
Reverse Flow Viscometer (Cannon-Fenske Opaque Viscometers)
2.
Water Bath controlling temperature
3.
Glycerin liquid
4.
Pycno meter to measure the density
A schematic diagram of the Cannon-Fenske Opaque Viscometer apparatus is shown in
Fig. 2. These reverse flow type viscometers wet the timing section of the viscometer
capillary only during the actual measurement. The liquid sample flows into a timing bulb
not previously wetted by sample, thus allowing the timing of liquids whose thin films are
opaque. Reverse flow viscometers must be cleaned, dried, and refilled prior to each
measurement.
Clean the viscometer using suitable solvents, and dry by passing clean dry filtered air
through the instrument to remove any traces of solvent.
To charge the sample into the viscometer, invert the instrument and apply suction to arm
L, immersing tube N in the liquid sample, and draw liquid to bulb D, up to mark G. Turn
the viscometer to the normal position, wipe and clean it. When the meniscus travels
through D and fills the bulb an up to its half, use a small rubber stopper to close the limb
N to stop the flow of the liquid. Place the viscometer is in a thermostat by means of a
proper holder and allow 10 -15 minutes to attain the required temperature. Subsequently
remove the rubber stopper and record the efflux time for the liquid to pass through the
bulbs C and J. By measuring the time required by the liquid to pass between the
markings E, F and I, the viscosities may be calculated from the efflux times for the two
bulbs. Students may compare between the values. It should be noted that any the reverse
flow viscometers must be cleaned, dried, and refilled before a repeat measurement can be
made.
Repeat the measurement different glycerin/ water concentrations, and different
temperatures like T = 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 oC and for several concentrations (in wt %)

N
L

G
I
R

J
F

C
E

Figure 2. Cannon-Fenske opaque reverse flow viscometer

Table 1. Various size Cannon-Fenske opaque reverse flow viscometer
Size No.

Kinematic Viscosity Range,

mm2/s (cSt)

Capillary Diameter, Viscometer

mm ( 2%)
Constant
(C) mm2/s2

25
50
75
100
150
200
300
350
400
450
500
600

0.4 - 2
0.8 - 4
1.6 - 8
3-15
7-35
20-100
50-200
100-500
240-1,200
500-2,500
1,600-8,000
4,000-20,000

0.31
0.42
0.54
0.63
0.78
1.02
1.26
1.48
1.88
2.20
3.10
4.00

0.002
0.004
0.008
0.015
0.035
0.1
0.25
0.5
1.2
2.5
8
20

References:
1. J. Welty, C. Wicks, and R. Wilson, Fundamentals of Momentum, Heat, and Mass Transfer
John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York Third edition (1983).
2. A. Dinsdale and F. Moore, Viscosity and its measurement, Chapman and Hall, London
(1962).
3. M. R. Cannon and M. R. Fenske, Viscosity measurement, Ind. Eng. Chem. Analytical Edition.
10(6), 297-301 (1938).
4. M. R. Cannon and M. R Fenske, Viscosity measurement, Ind. Eng. Chem. Analytical Edition.
13(5), 299-300 (1938).
5. M. R Cannon, R. E Manning, and J. D. Bell, Viscosity measurement, the kinetic-energy
correction and a new viscometer, Anal. Chem. 32, 355-358 (1960).
6. Y. A. Pinkevich, New viscometer for the determination of the viscosity of petroleum products
at low temperatures, Petroleum (London), 8, 214-215 (1945).
7. ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) D 88, Standard Test Method for Saybolt
Viscosity.
8. C. R. Duhne, Viscosity-temperature correlations for liquids, Chem.Eng. 86 (15), 83 (1979).
9. G.M. Panchenkov, Calculation of absolute values of the viscosity of liquids, Zhurn. Fiz.
Khim. 24, 1390-1406 (1950).
10. M. J. Lee and M. C. Wei, Corresponding-states model for viscosity of liquids and liquid
mixtures, J. Chem. Eng. Japan, 26(2), 159-165 (1993).

Saddawi
January 2013