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Specific
Gravity Table of Contents
Physical
& Chemical Properties
For many liquids, specific gravity is used which is ratio of the mass
of a given volume to the mass of an equal volume of water. Therefore,
specific gravity is dimensionless. The specific gravity of mineral
oils also varies from 0.86 to 0.98 since the specific gravity of water
is 1 at 15.6 degree C. Specific gravity decreases with increased temperature
and decreases slightly as viscosity decreases for similar compositions.
Reference 5 (pp. 482- 484) gives the specific gravity of 81 mineral
oils at 15.6 degree C.
Most lubricant supplier's typical data bulletins give A.P.I. (American
Petroleum Institute) Gravity in degrees for lubricating oils instead
of specific gravity. A.P.I. gravity is an expression of density measured
with a hydrometer. A.P.I. gravity has an inverse relationship with
specific gravity, as shown in the following table from Reference 8.
| A. P. I. Gravity |
Specific Gravity |
| 15 |
0.97 |
| 34.9 |
0.85 |
Many mineral oil lubricants have an A.P.I. gravity value of around
27 degrees. Reference 8 gives the equation for converting A.P.I. gravity
to specific gravity.
Density, specific gravity, and A.P.I. gravity are measured by ASTM
D-1298, using a calibrated, glass hydrometer and a glass cylinder.
The cylinder is partially filled with the sample oil and the hydrometer
is set into the oil and allowed to stabilize. A reading of the gravity
is taken from the markings on the stem of the hydrometer at the surface
of the oil. The temperature of the oil is measured and the final result
is converted to 15.6 degree C (60 oF) and reported as A. P. I. gravity
at 60 oF.
Two other oil properties related to density are thermal expansion
and bulk modulus or compressibility.
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