ASTM D2161-05

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

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
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.
This practice establishes the official equations relating SUS and SFS to the SI kinematic viscosity units, mm2/s.  
This practice allows for the conversion between SUS and SFS units and SI units of kinematic viscosity.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice 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 mm 2/s at 122 and 210°F (50 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). Note 1A fundamental and preferred method for measuring kinematic viscosity is by use of kinematic viscometers as outlined in Test Method D 445. 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.
1.2 The SI unit of kinematic viscosity, mm2/s, and temperature in degrees Fahrenheit are the standard in this practice.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Mar-2005
• ICS: 17.060 - Measurement of volume, mass, density, viscosity
• Technical Committee: D02 - Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants
• Drafting Committee: D02.07 - Flow Properties

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM D2161-04 - Standard Practice for Conversion of Kinematic Viscosity to Saybolt Universal Viscosity or to Saybolt Furol Viscosity
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2005
• Replaced By: ASTM D2161-05e1 - Standard Practice for Conversion of Kinematic Viscosity to Saybolt Universal Viscosity or to Saybolt Furol Viscosity
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2005
• Referred By: ASTM D4731-13(2020) - Standard Specification for Hot-Application Filling Compounds for Telecommunications Wire and Cable
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2005
• Referred By: ASTM D4732-13(2020) - Standard Specification for Cool-Application Filling Compounds for Telecommunications Wire and Cable
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2005
• Referred By: ASTM D88/D88M-07(2019)e1 - Standard Test Method for Saybolt Viscosity
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2005
• Referred By: ASTM D117-22 - Standard Guide for Sampling, Test Methods, and Specifications for Electrical Insulating Liquids
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2005
• Referred By: ASTM D6074-15(2022) - Standard Guide for Characterizing Hydrocarbon Lubricant Base Oils
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2005
• Referred By: ASTM D8046-21 - Standard Guide for Pumpability of Heat Transfer Fluids
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2005

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
An American National Standard
Designation:D2161–05
Standard Practice for
Conversion of Kinematic Viscosity to Saybolt Universal
1
Viscosity or to Saybolt Furol Viscosity
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 2161; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
1. Scope* matic Viscosity at 40 and 100°C
2 2.2 ASTM Adjunct:
1.1 This practice covers the conversion tables and equa-
2
ADJD2161 Viscosity Extrapolation Tables to Zero Degrees
tions for converting kinematic viscosity in mm /s at any
Fahrenheit (SSU)
temperature to Saybolt Universal viscosity in Saybolt Univer-
sal seconds (SUS) at the same temperature and for converting
3. Summary of Practice
2
kinematicviscosityinmm /sat122and210°F(50and98.9°C)
3.1 The Saybolt Universal viscosity equivalent to a given
toSayboltFurolviscosityinSayboltFurolseconds(SFS)atthe
kinematic viscosity varies with the temperature at which the
same temperatures. Kinematic viscosity values are based on
2 determination is made. The basic conversion values are those
water being 1.0034 mm /s (cSt) at 68°F (20°C).
given in Table 1 for 100°F. The Saybolt Universal viscosity
NOTE 1—Afundamentalandpreferredmethodformeasuringkinematic
equivalent to a given kinematic viscosity at any temperature
viscosity is by use of kinematic viscometers as outlined in Test Method
may be calculated as described in 4.3. Equivalent values at
D 445. It is recommended that kinematic viscosity be reported in
210°F are given in Table 1 for convenience.
millimetres squared per second, instead of Saybolt Universal Seconds
3.2 The Saybolt Furol viscosity equivalents are tabulated in
(SUS) or Saybolt Furol Seconds (SFS). This method is being retained for
Table 3 for temperatures of 122°F and 210°F only.
thepurposeofcalculationofkinematicviscositiesfromSUSandSFSdata
2
that appear in past literature. One millimetre squared per second (mm /s)
3.3 ExamplesforusingthetablesaregiveninAppendixX1.
equals one centistoke (cSt), which is another unit commonly found in
older literature. 4. Significance and Use
2
4.1 At one time the petroleum industry relied on measuring
1.2 The SI unit of kinematic viscosity, mm /s, and tempera-
ture in degrees Fahrenheit are the standard in this practice. kinematic viscosity by means of the Saybolt viscometer, and
expressing kinematic viscosity in units of Saybolt Universal
2. Referenced Documents
Seconds(SUS)andSayboltFurolSeconds(SFS).Thispractice
3
2.1 ASTM Standards: is now obsolete in the petroleum industry.
D 445 Test Method for Kinematic Viscosity of Transparent 4.2 This practice establishes the official equations relating
2
and Opague Liquids SUS and SFS to the SI kinematic viscosity units, mm /s.
D 2270 Practice for Calculating Viscosity Index from Kine- 4.3 This practice allows for the conversion between SUS
and SFS units and SI units of kinematic viscosity.
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D02 on Petroleum
5. Procedure for Conversion to Saybolt Universal
Products and Lubricants and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D02.07 on
Viscosity
Flow Properties.
Current edition approved April 1, 2005. Published April 2005. Originally 5.1 Convert kinematic viscosities between 1.81 and 500
2 2
approved in 1963, replacing former D 446 and D 666. Last previous edition
mm /s (cSt) at 100°F, and between 1.77 and 139.8 mm /s (cSt)
e2
approved in 1999 as D 2161 – 93 (1999) .
at210°F,toequivalentSayboltUniversalsecondsdirectlyfrom
2
This practice, together with Practice D 2270, replaces Compilation of ASTM
Table 1 (see Appendix X1, Example 1).
Viscosity Tables for Kinematic Viscosity Conversions.
3
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
NOTE 2—Obtain viscosities not listed, but which are within the range
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
given in Table 1, by linear interpolation (see Appendix X1, Example 2).
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
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D2161–05
5.2 Convert kinematic viscosities greater than the upper 7. Procedure for Computer Calculation
limits of Table 1 at temperatures of 100 and 210°F to Saybolt
7.1 Table 1 and Table 3 were computed by fitting a smooth
Universal viscosities
...