Wide-Ranging Viscosity Measurements of Rocket Propellant RP-2

Abstract

Expanding on earlier viscosity measurements of rocket propellants from 293 to 373 K at atmospheric pressure, the viscosity of rocket propellant RP-2 was measured from 270 to 425 K with pressures to 137 MPa. The instrument was an oscillating-piston viscometer, modified and recalibrated at the National Institute of Standards and Technology with dodecane as a reference fluid over the full temperature and pressure range. Based on the recalibrations, the repeatability of the measurements was found to be approximately 3%, whereas the uncertainty of the instrument is estimated at 5%. The measured viscosities of RP-2 were compared with values calculated with a five-component surrogate mixture model developed at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The experimental data have a stronger pressure dependence than the mixture model and are up to 29% higher at high compressions.