the si unit of dynamic viscosity is the pascal-second (pa·s), or equivalently kilogram per meter per second (kg·m·s). the cgs unit (g·cm·s = 0.1 pa·s) is called the poise (p), named after jean léonard marie poiseuille. it is commonly expressed, particularly in astm standards, as "centipoise" (cp) since the latter is equal to the si multiple millipascal seconds (mpa·s).