---
title: How Are Consistency, Surface Tension and Viscosity Different?
description: Consistency, Surface Tension and Viscosity. Do these liquid properties relate to each other?  If so How?
---

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# [How Are Consistency, Surface Tension and Viscosity Different?](https://www.cscscientific.com/csc-scientific-blog/how-are-consistency-surface-tension-and-viscosity-different)

 Written by [Art Gatenby](https://www.cscscientific.com/csc-scientific-blog/author/art-gatenby) | Feb 26, 2014 4:35:00 PM

I used to think that liquids were pretty simple things. Is that what you think too?

Not so fast. Let’s take a look at three properties of liquids and see if we change our view.

Here at CSC, we work with **Consistency**, **Surface Tension** and **Viscosity** of liquids.

As an indicator of **Consistency**, sometimes defined as thickness or runniness, we use a Bostwick Consistometer. Producers of ketchup, soups, sauces, paints, liquid mixes and the like use the property of **Consistency **as a check of quality on their incoming and finished product.

**Surface Tension**, the property that resists external forces at the surface, is a characteristic we measure with duNouy Ring Tensiometers. Research and Development projects for coatings, adhesives and surfactants use these measurements**. Surface tension** changes are a basic in monitoring processes such as parts cleaning and electroplating.

**Viscosity**, the measurement of the resistance of a liquid to flowing, is the third quality of liquids that we work with. This characteristic is important in many food products, particularly where flow is important. For example, with pancake syrup, the effectiveness of petroleum compounds are dependent on **Viscosity** as well as the design characteristics of liquid handling systems.

We are constantly asked how these properties relate to one another. There are very few factors that are associated between these properties. First, there is the general impression of thickness – a liquid with higher viscosity usually means a comparatively higher consistency, but not necessarily a higher surface tension.  ***As temperature increases all three properties become lower in an inverse relationship to temperature.***

Other than these associations, across the board correlations do not exist.

This is due to what is behind each of the properties. **Consistency **is a measure of **how a liquid material reacts to gravity.**  **Surface Tension**, the **resistance of the surface to external forces** is a result of the attraction of the molecules and the level of hydrogen bonding**. Viscosity’s resistance to flow **is a combination of the size of the molecules and the shape of the molecules.

Because of these differences, correlation or conversion of readings between the properties of **Consistency, Surface Tension** and **Viscosity** is not possible except between liquids of very similar molecular structure, shape and attraction. Some studies of selected alkanes have shown linear relationship between the log of **Surface Tension** and the reciprocal of **Viscosity**, but for a narrow range of molecular structure.

As a result we must give the answer – there is **no general correlation** of Viscosity to Consistency, or Viscosity to Surface Tension, or Surface Tension to Consistency.

 The measurements of Consistency and Surface Tension are straightforward and only need a fixed temperature to assure consistent readings from test to test. Check out the videos.

1. **[How to do a Bostwick Consistency Test](https://www.cscscientific.com/bostwick-consistometer-test)**
2. **[How to run a Surface Tension Test](https://www.cscscientific.com/surface-tension-video-thank-you)**

Measuring **Viscosity **adds several complications. First, there are several types reactions to the movement of liquids. Then there is the relationship of the force used to the speed of movement.

**Viscosity**, as the resistance to flow has two critical aspects.  The first is a measurement of the force needed to move the layers of a liquid against each other. The second complication arises from the speed at which you move the layers. 

Two new terms come into play when dealing with **Viscosity**. The force needed to move a liquid is known as **shear stress** and the speed of movement is known as **shear rate.** The ratio of **shear stress** to **shear rate** (shear stress/ shear rate) is the basis of the term viscosity.

Adding these two factors (force and speed) begins to complicate the development of **Viscosity **measurement. In addition, There are different kinds of liquids. There are fluids in which the **viscosity stays constant** at any velocity or shear rate, fluids in which **viscosity declines** with velocity, yet another ( you may have guessed) where **viscosity increases** with shear rate, others include liquids which show a **change in viscosity over time at a given rate**  and  fluids in which** viscosity changes with speed** but does not even start to move until a specific levelof force is applied.

The first type is known as a **Newtonian** fluid: water, hydrocarbons, mineral oils, syrup and resins are examples. The **Viscosity **of **Newtonian **fluids does not change with changes in speed/velocity.

The second type belongs to a category known as **Non-Newtonian**, and there are several types of Non-Newtonian fluids in this category some examples include.

The group of fluids for which an increase in speed lowers** Viscosity** is known as **Shear Thinning or Pseudoplastic**; ketchup, paint, nail polish, and polymer solutions are examples.

Next are liquids that increase in **Viscosity**  as the speed increases, called **Dilatant (**almost like a playboy - Dilettante**) **or **Shear Thickening**; silica, glycol,cornstarch solutions and some slurries are included here.

Liquids that experience a changes in viscosity as a constant stress is applied to them over time are known as T**hixotropic, **if the viscosity decrease or **R****heopectic **if viscosity increases. Examples are inks, Clays and drilling muds.

Finally, there are fluids that require a certain stress is needed before they flow, called **Plastic. **This type includes gels, latex paints, lotions, and toothpaste. (Just to further complicate matters, a fluid can be both plastic and another type of non-Newtonian fluid, often pseudoplastic or thixotropic.)

***Viscosity measurement = simplicity personified, right?***

These details of the basic two-phase measurement requirement (stress and velocity) for **Viscosity** and the complex actions of the different fluid categories hopefully illustrate that the lack of direct correlations of **Viscosity **to **Surface Tension** and **Consistency** is based on the fundamental differences of the these three properties of a liquid.

I hope this helped shine light on the reasons that **there are no general correlations **among these three properties, and that the requirements for instruments to measure them are significantly different.

Now you may understand why I am continuously baffled by this test equipment undertaking.

Art

P. S. If you would like to be informed by email of our next harangue, **subscribe in the space above**

P.P.S. If you like more information on instruments that measure **Consistency, Surface Tension** or **Viscosity **clicks on the appropriate icon here.

  

By Art Gatenby 

[View full post](https://www.cscscientific.com/csc-scientific-blog/how-are-consistency-surface-tension-and-viscosity-different)

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