Viscosity

Introduction and Application in

Paint Flow & Pigment
Dispersion
1
2
Background
Viscosity is a measure of a fluids
resistance to flow. Think of viscosity as a
coefficient that relates the stress applied to
a fluid and the fluids response. For
example:






where t is the stress (Pa), is the

resulting velocity gradient in the fluid, and
q is the viscosity (sometimes referred to as
shear viscosity in this context).
This basaltic lava flow emanating
from a very small vent on Mt. Etna is
about as viscous as a thick salsa.
Photo by L. Connor
What is viscosity?
t q =
du
dx
1
2
du
dx
1
2
3
Background
Consider a fluid trapped between
two plates. When a stress is
applied to the upper plate while the
lower plate is held still, a vertical
velocity gradient is created in the
fluid. This velocity gradient is
equivalent to a strain rate. Since






the units of viscosity are Pascal
seconds (Pa s).
In order to explain shear rate, first there are a few items that need
to be discussed:
Reynolds Number
Turbulent and Laminar Flow
Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids
Fountain Flow.
What are the units of viscosity?
t q =
du
dx
1
2
Figure from Mader, 2006, Volcanic processes as a source
of statistical data, In: Mader et al., (eds) Statistics in
Volcanology, Geological Society of London, 1-14.
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The units of Viscosity are:

Pascal.second [Pa.s] in SI, Poise in CGS

1 poise = 100 centipoise (cps)
1 poise = 0.1 Pasec
1 poise = 0.0671969 lb/(ftsec)
1 poise = 4.031814 lb/(ftmin)

Pa = Pascal = Nm pressure, stress

stoke = (poise)/(g/cm)
Viscosity Units
Reynolds Number
When discussing fluid flow, there are two distinct
types of flow:
Turbulent and Laminar (there is also transitional
flow which occurs between the two distinct
types)

Turbulent flow is very random and there is a lot
of mixing that takes place within the molecules.

Laminar flow is very ordered, the molecules
move in layers.

The Reynolds number is a dimensionless
number that is used to describe the type of flow
that is occurring.
Reynolds Number

The Reynolds Number (Re) of a fluid moving
through a round channel is equal to;

Re = density x velocity x diameter = .v . d
viscosity

If a fluid has a Re of:
2300 > Laminar Flow
2300-4000 Transitional Flow
> 4000 Turbulent Flow


Turbulent flow provides a higher degree of mixing and a more consistent temperature across the flow
channel than laminar flow.

In applications where we use water flow to cool tooling, we want turbulent flow in order to get better heat
transfer.
Faster Flow less drag
Frictional Drag
Frictional Drag
Laminar Flow
While Turbulent flow is very chaotic an there is a
lot of mixing that takes place, Laminar flow is
much smoother and there is a difference in
velocity across the flow channel.

The molecules at the channel wall are flowing
more slowly than the molecules in the middle
due to frictional drag.
Laminar flow is sometimes envisioned as a
series of plates or layers that flow across each
other.

The shear rate is determined by the velocity
divided by the thickness of the laminate or:
= v/h
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Types of viscosity
Newton's law of
viscosity, is a
constitutive equation
(like Hooke's law,
Fick's law, Ohm's
law).
It is not a
fundamental law of
nature but an
approximation that
holds in some
materials and fails in
others.
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Non-Newtonian fluids exhibit a more complicated relationship between
shear stress and velocity gradient than simple linearity. Thus there exist a
number of forms of viscosity:
Newtonian: fluids, such as water and most gases which have a constant
viscosity.
Shear thickening: viscosity increases with the rate of shear.
Shear thinning: viscosity decreases with the rate of shear. Shear thinning
liquids are very commonly, but misleadingly, described as thixotropic.
Thixotropic: materials which become less viscous over time when shaken,
agitated, or otherwise stressed.
Rheopectic: materials which become more viscous over time when
shaken, agitated, or otherwise stressed.
A Bingham plastic is a material that behaves as a solid at low stresses
but flows as a viscous fluid at high stresses.
A magnetorheological fluid is a type of "smart fluid" which, when
subjected to a magnetic field, greatly increases its apparent viscosity, to the
point of becoming a viscoelastic solid.

Forms of Viscosity
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Viscosity Coefficients
Dynamic viscosity, also absolute viscosity, the more usual one (typical units
Pas, Poise, P);
Kinematic viscosity is the dynamic viscosity divided by the density (typical
units cm
2
/s, Stokes, St).
Viscosity is a tensorial quantity that can be decomposed in different ways into
two independent components. The most usual decomposition yields the
following viscosity coefficients:
Shear viscosity, the most important one, often referred to as simply viscosity,
describing the reaction to applied shear stress; simply put, it is the ratio
between the pressure exerted on the surface of a fluid, in the lateral or
horizontal direction, to the change in velocity of the fluid as you move down in
the fluid (this is what is referred to as a velocity gradient).
Volume viscosity (also called bulk viscosity or second viscosity) becomes
important only for such effects where fluid compressibility is essential.
Examples would include shock waves and sound propagation. It appears in the
Stokes' law (sound attenuation) that describes propagation of sound in
Newtonian liquid.
Alternatively,
Extensional viscosity, a linear combination of shear and bulk viscosity,
describes the reaction to elongation, widely used for characterizing polymers.
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Newtons Law of Viscous Flow











Examples of nonNewtonian fluids are:
polymer solutions and melts
slurries of ore, sand, coal
cement, asphalt
paint, ketchup, peanut butter
blood, saliva
Newtonian and non-Newtonian Fluids





If is constant the fluid is called Newtonian. If is not constant
and depends on the gradient then the fluid is non-Newtonian.
Water is a Newtonian fluid.
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Background
Any fluid, including the solvent
in paint industry is considered
Newtonian if there is a linear
relationship between stress and
strain. That is, if:



Newtonian and non-Newtonian viscosity
In a non-Newtonian fluid, the above linear relationship does not hold true. For
example, in a Bingham fluid:



where t
o
is a yield stress (also called yield strength) required to get the fluid
moving. Although still linear, a new term is added to the linear equation.
high slope, high viscosity
low slope, low viscosity
t q =
du
dx
1
2
t t q = +
o
du
dx
1
2
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Background
Viscosity is highly dependent on
temperature. Think of a pool of molten
glass. As the temperature drops, it will
take more and more applied stress to
make the glass flow.
Temperature and Viscosity
An Arrhenian model of viscosity is one in
which viscosity is exponentially
dependent on temperature:




where q
o
is viscosity under standard
temperature conditions, E is the
activation energy, R is the universal gas
constant, and T is temperature.
q q ( ) exp T
E
RT
o
=

(
This glass is an alkaline silicate melt
with low viscosity at 1000 C and very
workable into shapes at about 800 to
900 C. At about 700 C, the viscosity
is high enough for the shape to not
deform under its own weight.
Learn More about the
Arrhenian model
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More about the Arrhenian Model
The Arrhenian model is named for Svante Arrhenius, who
developed a method of predicting the increased speed of a
chemical reaction with increased temperature. His equation has
the form:
Arrhenian models are also common in statistics and used to predict the higher
rate of failure of just about anything at higher temperatures. For more about
the statistical application of the model, see:
k A
E
RT
=

(
exp
where k is the rate coefficient that describes how much faster the reaction will
proceed, A is the Arrhenius coefficient, which varies with the specific chemical
reaction, E is the activation energy, R is the gas constant, and T is temperature.

Note that this is the exact form of the Arrhenian viscosity model, with A replaced
by the viscosity of the fluid at some standard temperature condition.
More about E,R,T
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Pseudoplastic and Dilatant Flow
Pseudoplastic and Dilatant
Coating that decrease in viscosity with
increase of shear stress (shear-thinning).
Coating that increase in velocity with
increase of shear stress is called dilatant.
If h decreases as the shear force on the
fluid increases then the fluid is called
thixotropic.
paint, tomato ketchup, toothpaste, peanut
butter
This is the more common behaviour
because the shear force destroys the weak
secondary (van der Waals) forces which
hold the molecules together.
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Why is Rheology Important for Paint
Industries
Mixing
Pigment Dispersion
Pumping
Storage
Settling
Application
Spray
Dip
Flow coat
Roller coat
Brush
Film formation
Flow and levelling
Coalescence
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Paint Application
Brush Application
Shear thinning-easy brushing
low resistance
Flow and Leveling - recovery
Sagging - high low shear
viscosity
Open time - lapping
Settling - thixotropic
What Effects Spray Performance
Paint Viscosity (Elongational)
Surface tension
Shear thinning
Thixotropy
Pseudo plastic flow
Solvent evaporation
Thixotropy
Sagging
Flow and Leveling
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Common Viscosity Measurement