A measure of the flow transport behaviour of a fluid. It is the phenomenon in which a fluid will withstand a slight amount of molecular tension between particles, which will cause an apparent shear resistance between two adjacent layers. The term ‘viscosity’ is used to describe the fact that certain fluids flow easily, such as gases, water, and mercury, while others do not, such as tar, treacle, and glycerine. These fluids are broadly classified as thin and thick fluids. Sir Isaac Newton (1642–1727) proposed that the shear stress is proportional to the velocity gradient or shear rate. By considering a fluid sandwiched between two parallel plates set at a distance dz apart in which the upper plate moves with some small velocity dv in comparison with the lower plate, there will be a small resisting force over the plate area due to viscous frictional effects in the fluid. This force per unit area of plate (F/A) is known as the shear stress, τ. Newton’s law of viscosity is therefore given as:
The proportionality constant, μ, is known as the coefficient of dynamic viscosity and is also known as the absolute or dynamic viscosity of the fluid; it is influenced by process conditions such as temperature. In the case of Newtonian fluids, μ is a constant. Examples of Newtonian fluids include water, ethanol, and benzene. The viscosity of a fluid may, however, not always be constant for certain fluids for different applied shear stresses. These fluids are known collectively as non-Newtonian fluids. In such cases, the term ‘apparent viscosity’ is conveniently used. Examples of non-Newtonian fluids include paint, polymers, most slurries, and many foodstuffs. The calculation remains the same and is the ratio of shear stress to shear rate. In SI units, it has examples of non-Newtonian fluids include paint, polymers, most slurries, and many foodstuffs. the units kgm–1s–1 or using derived SI units Nsm–2 or Pa.s. In the c.g.s. system it is measured in poise (P) or centipoise (cP), where 1 cP is equivalent to 10–3 Nsm–2. The viscosities of gases are significantly less than for liquids. Oils, such as olive oil, are an order of magnitude higher than liquids such as water. In general, high-viscosity fluids can be considered in the order of 10 Nsm–2 and above. See kinematic viscosity.