Argon and Nitrogen Plasma Viscosity Measurements

Abstract

The viscosity of argon and nitrogen is experimentally determined from 10 500 to 12 750°K at atmospheric pressure. The viscosity is shown to be a simple function of the velocity and the axial static pressure gradient in the arc discharge used for this experiment. A unique probe system is used to measure the difference between stagnation and static pressures across the diameter of the plasma column, and the approximate equation which converts the pressure difference to velocity is shown to be valid. The axial static pressure gradient is measured directly. Measured viscosities are compared with the experimental and calculated results of other investigators.