MECH 1200 Mechanical Components and Electrical Drives

MECH 1200 Mechanical Components and Electrical Drives

Viscosity Measurement

Name: ______

Date:______

In this lab you will use the viscosimeter to measure viscosity of different oils. This instrument works by comparing the viscosity of a liquid sample to the known viscosity of an oil.

1.  Clean the viscosimeter by dipping it into the oil that you want to use and slowly drawing oil into its chamber. Do not let air bubbles get in. Then eject the sample out of the device.

2.  Dip the nozzle in the oil sample and slowly draw oil into the chamber until it is completely filled, try not to draw any air bubbles into the chamber.

3.  If air bubbles are trapped in the chamber, tilt the device upwards until the air bubble goes up, and slightly tap onto the chamber with your finger until all air bubbles are gone.

4.  Position the viscosimeter inside its case for a few minutes to allow the oils in its chambers to adjust to the same temperature.

5.  Take out the instrument and hold it in a straight horizontal position. Make sure that the balls inside the chambers are at the right end side on the zero position.

6.  Tilt the nozzle side down slowly by 30-45 degrees, the balls will start moving to the left end.

7.  When the leading ball reaches the 200 mark, read the point of the scale at which is the other ball, and record your reading.

8.  Repeat steps 5 to 7 five times, then take the average of your readings. The average will be the viscosity of the oil in Saybolt Universal Seconds.

9.  Dispose the oil properly, and return the instrument to its case.

10.  Clean any oil spills.

Table: Viscosity measurements in units of SUS

Oil Sample / Reading 1 / Reading 2 / Reading 3 / Reading 4 / Reading 5 / Average (SUS)
Oil A
Oil B
Oil C