ASTM D2161

ASTM D2161 – Standard Practice for Conversion of Kinematic Viscosity to Saybolt Universal Viscosity or to Saybolt Furol Viscosity

Description:

Significance and Use

4.1 At one time the petroleum industry relied on measuring kinematic viscosity by means of the Saybolt viscometer, and expressing kinematic viscosity in units of Saybolt Universal Seconds (SUS) and Saybolt Furol Seconds (SFS). This practice is now obsolete in the petroleum industry.

4.2 This practice establishes the official equations relating SUS and SFS to the SI kinematic viscosity units, mm²/s.

4.3 This practice allows for the conversion between SUS and SFS units and SI units of kinematic viscosity.

Scope

1.1 This practice2 covers the conversion tables and equations for converting kinematic viscosity in mm²/s at any temperature to Saybolt Universal viscosity in Saybolt Universal seconds (SUS) at the same temperature and for converting kinematic viscosity in mm²/s at 122 °F and 210 °F (50 °C and 98.9 °C) to Saybolt Furol viscosity in Saybolt Furol seconds (SFS) at the same temperatures. Kinematic viscosity values are based on water being 1.0034 mm²/s (cSt) at 68 °F (20 °C).

1.2 If a method other than Test Method D445 is used to generate the kinematic viscosity data, apply appropriate relative-bias correction factors as found in the precision section of that method, before performing the calculations of this practice.

NOTE 1: The equations in D2161 were originally empirically derived using data from both D445 and the Saybolt viscometer method. Therefore, it is conceivable that an error could result if the kinematic viscosities used are not bias-corrected to D445 results. It is recommended that kinematic viscosity be reported in millimetres squared per second, instead of Saybolt Universal Seconds (SUS) or Saybolt Furol Seconds (SFS). This method is being retained for the purpose of calculation of kinematic viscosities from SUS and SFS data that appear in past literature. One millimetre squared per second (mm²/s) equals one centistoke (cSt), which is another unit commonly found in older literature.

1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are provided for reference information purposes only. The SI unit of kinematic viscosity is mm²/s.

1.3.1 Exception—Fahrenheit temperature units are used in this practice because they are accepted by industry for the type of legacy conversions described in this practice.