Viscosity Converter
Convert between different units of viscosity with precision and ease.
Viscosity Converter
Instant conversion between viscosity units
⚡ Popular Conversions
About Viscosity Conversion
Dynamic Viscosity
Absolute viscosity measuring internal friction.
- • Pa·s - SI unit (N·s/m²)
- • Poise (P) - 0.1 Pa·s
- • Centipoise (cP) - 0.001 Pa·s
- • Water at 20°C ≈ 1 cP
Kinematic Viscosity
Dynamic viscosity divided by density.
- • m²/s - SI unit
- • Stoke (St) - 10⁻⁴ m²/s
- • Centistoke (cSt) - 10⁻⁶ m²/s
- • ft²/s - 0.092903 m²/s
Common Fluids
Typical viscosity values at 20°C.
- • Water - 1 cP
- • Olive Oil - 84 cP
- • Honey - 2,000-10,000 cP
- • Motor Oil SAE 30 - 200-300 cP
Applications
Uses of viscosity measurements.
- • Automotive - Engine oil specifications
- • Chemical - Process design
- • Food Industry - Quality control
- • Pharmaceuticals - Drug formulation
- • Cosmetics - Product consistency
Understanding Viscosity Units
Viscosity is a measure of a fluid's resistance to flow and deformation, quantifying internal friction between fluid layers. There are two primary types: dynamic viscosity (absolute viscosity) measured in pascal-seconds (Pa·s), and kinematic viscosity measured in square meters per second (m²/s).
The pascal-second is the SI unit for dynamic viscosity, representing the tangential force per unit area required to maintain a unit velocity gradient between parallel layers of fluid. The centipoise (cP), equal to 0.001 Pa·s, is commonly used in industry as it represents approximately the viscosity of water at room temperature.
Kinematic viscosity relates dynamic viscosity to fluid density, making it particularly useful in applications where gravitational effects are important. The stoke (St) and centistoke (cSt) are CGS units commonly used in petroleum industry standards, with 1 cSt equal to 1 mm²/s.
In industrial applications, viscosity measurements are crucial for quality control, process optimization, and product specification. Automotive lubricants, hydraulic fluids, paints, adhesives, and food products all require precise viscosity control to ensure proper performance and consumer acceptance.
Temperature effects significantly influence viscosity, with most liquids becoming less viscous as temperature increases. This relationship is critical in applications such as engine oil formulation, where multigrade oils are designed to maintain optimal viscosity across temperature ranges, requiring accurate conversion between different viscosity units for specification compliance.