DIN 53019-1 Measurement of Viscosities and Flow Curves Using Rotary Viscometers - Part 1: Principles and Measurement Geometry

The standard “DIN 53019-1 Viscometer - Measurement of viscosities and flow curves using rotary viscometers - Part 1: Principles and measurement geometry”, published by the German Institute for Standardization (DIN), describes flow fields for measuring the flow behavior of Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids in rotary viscometers, specifying particular measurement geometries. Flow behavior is defined by shear viscosity, shear viscosity function, viscosity curve, or flow curve. The characteristics of this standard are valid under the following conditions:

The fluid should not slide across the boundary surfaces (wall adhesion).
The acceleration forces in the fluid must remain small enough that the flow process is determined solely by laminar, steady-state layered flow.
Local and temporal temperature differences in the fluid should be negligibly small.
Flow fields are defined by boundary surfaces (simple boundary surfaces), each consisting of a cylindrical shell, a conical shell, or a circular area. In practice, composite boundary surfaces are also used.
Boundaries other than these simple boundary surfaces should not affect the flow field.
Surface oscillation errors and axis misalignments should be negligibly small.

Deviations from this, unless accounted for by applying corrections (DIN 53019-3), lead to an increase in measurement uncertainty (DIN 53019-2).

When using rotary viscometers, the properties of the fluid, the characteristics of the flow process, the design of the instruments, and systematic deviations arising from the experimental procedure must be taken into account. The DIN 53019-3 standard requires a constant flow field between surfaces rotating at a constant angular velocity.

The following situations are excluded from the scope of this application:

Opening and closing operations and torsional vibrations (oscillations)
Adding other basic flows on top of the rotational flow
Measurement deviations of pure time, speed and torque measurements (DIN 53019-2)
Temperature, shear, or shear stress ramps.

To the extent that the influencing factors leading to systematic measurement deviations can be quantitatively determined, the DIN 53019-3 standard provides information on the relevant corrections. For measurement deviations that cannot be corrected, guidance is provided on avoiding them and estimating the deviation for use in uncertainty calculations.

The DIN 53019-1 standard specifies the fundamental principles and requirements for measuring viscosity (dynamic viscosity) and flow curves (rheological behavior under varying shear) using rotary viscometers. In particular, it focuses on the use of coaxial cylinder (concentric cylinder) measurement geometries, which are widely accepted as absolute measurement systems.

In a rotational viscometer, a shaft (inner cylinder) rotates inside a container (outer cylinder) filled with the sample. The torque required to maintain a specific rotational speed is measured, allowing for the calculation of shear stress and shear rate (and thus absolute viscosity values) when the geometry meets defined criteria.

The main advantages of geometries conforming to DIN 53019-1 are as follows:

A defined, narrow annular clearance between the cylinder and the housing ensures a nearly constant sliding speed across the gap.
Absolute (calculable) viscosity results (not just relative/comparative values).
It is suitable for Newtonian and many non-Newtonian fluids.

The main content of this standard is as follows:

Principles of rotational measurement: torque, angular velocity, shear stress, shear rate, and viscosity.
Geometric requirements for measurement systems (especially coaxial cylinders):
Specific ratios of the inner and outer cylinder radii.
Gap width constraints to ensure a uniform shear area.
Edge effects and edge smoothing.
Conditions for valid measurements (e.g., laminar flow, no shear on the walls, temperature control).
Calculation formulas for shear rate, shear stress, and viscosity.
Guidelines on suitable sample types (liquids with particles up to approximately 100 µm in many concentric cylinder arrangements).

The DIN 53019 standard is closely aligned with the ISO 3219 standard (which also covers rotational viscometers with defined coaxial cylinder geometries for absolute measurements). This contrasts with the ISO 2555 (or DIN EN ISO 2555) standard, which applies to relative measurements using generally undefined geometries. While the DIN 53019 standard allows for true absolute viscosity values, the results from the ISO 2555 standard are more instrument and setup-specific.

This standard is common in the following areas:

Quality control of paints, coatings, inks, adhesives and polymers.
Food industry (sauces, emulsions)
Cosmetics and pharmaceuticals
Petrochemicals (oils, lubricants)

Part 2 of this standard (DIN 53019-2) addresses measurement procedures, calibration, and evaluation, complementing the first part (DIN 53019-1) which focused on principles and equipment geometry.

Consequently, the DIN 53019-1 standard provides the fundamental framework for accurate, reproducible, and absolute viscosity determination using rotary viscometers with well-defined coaxial cylinder geometries. It remains a key reference in European rheology and materials testing laboratories.

For many years, our organization, with its competent and experienced staff, has been understanding the needs of its clients, providing the advanced testing services they require, and assisting them in the establishment, implementation, and improvement of management systems. Within this framework, we also provide testing services in accordance with the DIN 53019-1 standard.