Solenoid Valve Media Viscosity
The majority of 2/2 and 3/2 solenoid valves will work with fluids up to a maximum viscosity of 40 or 50 Centistokes viscosity (CST). The only exceptions to these rules are the special 2/2 and 3/2 Co-axial solenoid valves, special application solenoid valves and angle seat piston valves that can work up to 600 Centistokes and beyond.
Viscosity is the measurement of a fluid's internal resistance to flow. This is typically designated in units of Centipoise or poise but can be expressed in other acceptable measurements as well.
Some conversion factors are as follows:
You can read more about valves for thick glutinous media here...
| 100 Centipose | 1 Poise |
| 1 Centipose | 0.1 mPas (Millipascal Second) |
| 1 Poise | 0.1 pa s (Pascal Second) |
| Centipose | Centistoke x Density |
Approximate Viscosities of Common Materials
(At Room Temperature 20°C)
| Material | Viscosity in Centipose |
| Water | 1 cps |
| Milk | 3 cps |
| SAE 10 Motor Oil | 85 to 140 cps |
| SAE 20 Motor Oil | 140 to 420 cps |
| SAE 30 Motor Oil | 420 to 650 cps |
| SAE 40 Motor Oil | 650 to 900 cps |
| Castrol Oil | 1000 cps |
| Karo Syrup | 5000 cps |
| Honey | 10000 cps |
| Chocolate | 25000 cps |
| Ketchup | 50000 cps |
| Mustard | 70000 cps |
| Sour Cream | 100000 cps |
| Peanut Butter | 250000 cps |
Viscosity Cross-reference Tables
| Centipoise (CPS) Millipascal (mPas) |
Poise (P) |
Centistokes (CKS) |
Stokes (S) |
Saybolt Universal (SSU) |
| 1 |
0.01 |
1 |
0.01 |
31 |
| 2 |
0.02 |
2 |
0.02 |
34 |
| 4 |
0.04 |
4 |
0.04 |
38 |
| 7 |
0.07 |
7 |
0.07 |
47 |
| 10 |
0.1 |
10 |
0.1 |
60 |
| 15 |
0.15 |
15 |
0.15 |
80 |
| 20 |
0.2 |
20 |
0.2 |
100 |
| 25 |
0.24 |
25 |
0.24 |
130 |
| 30 |
0.3 |
30 |
0.3 |
160 |
| 40 |
0.4 |
40 |
0.4 |
210 |
| 50 |
0.5 |
50 |
0.5 |
260 |
| 60 |
0.6 |
60 |
0.6 |
320 |
| 70 |
0.7 |
70 |
0.7 |
370 |
| 80 |
0.8 |
80 |
0.8 |
430 |
| 90 |
0.9 |
90 |
0.9 |
480 |
| 100 |
1 |
100 |
1 |
530 |
| 120 |
1.2 |
120 |
1.2 |
580 |
| 140 |
1.4 |
140 |
1.4 |
690 |
| 160 |
1.6 |
160 |
1.6 |
790 |
| 180 |
1.8 |
180 |
1.8 |
900 |
| 200 |
2 |
200 |
2 |
1000 |
| 220 |
2.2 |
220 |
2.2 |
1100 |
| 240 |
2.4 |
240 |
2.4 |
1200 |
| 260 |
2.6 |
260 |
2.6 |
1280 |
| 280 |
2.8 |
280 |
2.8 |
1380 |
| 300 |
3 |
300 |
3 |
1475 |
| 320 |
3.2 |
320 |
3.2 |
1530 |
| 340 |
3.4 |
340 |
3.4 |
1630 |
| 360 |
3.6 |
360 |
3.6 |
1730 |
| 380 |
3.8 |
380 |
3.8 |
1850 |
| 400 |
4 |
400 |
4 |
1950 |
| 420 |
4.2 |
420 |
4.2 |
2050 |
| 440 |
4.4 |
440 |
4.4 |
2160 |
| 460 |
4.6 |
460 |
4.6 |
2270 |
| 480 |
4.8 |
480 |
4.8 |
2380 |
| 500 |
5 |
500 |
5 |
2480 |
| 550 |
5.5 |
550 |
5.5 |
2660 |
| 600 |
6 |
600 |
6 |
2900 |
Helpful Hint: Ask your chemical supplier for your media's viscosity, and compatible materials, as they are supposed to know.
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