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Synthesis and characterization of nano-fluids containing metal oxide nanoparticles

Phuoc Tran (NETL), Mehrdad Massoudi (NETL)

Complex Fluids: Suspensions, Emulsions, and Gels

Tue 2:40 - 4:00

Barus-Holley 160

Abstract Nanofluids are designed by adding nanoscale particles in low volumetric fractions to a fluid in order to enhance its rheological, mechanical, optical, and thermal properties. The liquid phase can be any liquid such as oil, water, ethylene glycol, or conventional fluid mixtures. The nanoparticles used in the design of such fluids are carbon, metals, and metal oxides, and inorganic materials with properties of no dissolution or aggregation in the liquid environment. To prepare such fluids, two common techniques have been used: the single-step technique and the two-step technique. In most studies to date, sample sizes produced by these techniques have been limited to less than a few hundred milliliters of nanofluids. In addition, the added nanoparticles have a tendency to agglomerate which leads a serious stability problem. We will, therefore, present in this work our new technique for nanofluid synthesis. The technique is purely physical and no chemical processes were involved. Nanofluids prepared this way were found to be stable for months. Our preliminary results on the viscosity indicated that the prepared nanofluids, in general, behave as generalized second grade fluids whose viscosity coefficient depends strongly on temperature and nanoparticle concentration. A theoretical model was developed and it was found to be suitable for describing the fluid behavior.