Abstract
In the present study, the simultaneous and accurate determination of liquid viscosity and surface tension of the n-alkanes n-hexane (n-C6H14), n-octane (n-C8H18), n-decane (n-C10H22), and n-hexadecane (n-C16H34) by surface light scattering (SLS) in thermodynamic equilibrium is demonstrated. Measurements have been performed over a wide temperature range from 283.15 K up to 473.15 K for n-C6H14, 523.15 K for n-C8H18, and 573.15 K for n-C10H22 as well as n-C16H34. The liquid dynamic viscosity and surface tension data with average total measurement uncertainties (k = 2) of (2.0 and 1.7) % agree with the available literature and contribute to a new database at high temperatures. Over the entire temperature range, a Vogel-type equation for the dynamic viscosity and a modified van der Waals equation for the surface tension represent the measured data for the four n-alkanes within experimental uncertainties. By also considering our former SLS data for n-dodecane (n-C12H26) and n-octacosane (n-C28H58), empirical models for the liquid viscosity and surface tension of n-alkanes were developed as a function of temperature and carbon number covering values between 6 and 28. Agreement between these models and reference correlations for further selected n-alkanes which were not included in the development procedure was found.