Mechanistic Investigations of Viscosity and Thermal Conductivity Enhancement in Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes-Propylene Glycol Nanofluids

作者：Mary A Helen; Suganthi K S; Rajan K S^*

来源：Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Letters, 2013, 5(10): 1125-1129.

DOI：10.1166/nnl.2013.1673

• MWCNT-Propylene Glycol
• Acid Treatment
• Particle Clustering
• Aspect Ratio
• Viscosity
• Thermal Conductivity

Experiments were performed on the formulation of MWCNT-Propylene glycol nanofluid through acid-treatment of MWCNT followed by ultrasonication. While acid-treatment introduced hydrophilic groups to facilitate dispersion in a polar liquid like propylene glycol, probe ultrasonication contributed to de-agglomeration of large clusters. The viscosity of acid-treated MWCNT-propylene glycol increases non-linearly with MWCNT volume concentration due to high aspect ratio and clustering. The analysis of viscosity and thermal conductivity data as a function of MWCNT concentration and temperature reveal the role of particle clustering in thermal conductivity enhancement. The nanofluid maintains colloidal stability even at temperatures as high as 140 degrees C.

• 出版日期2013-10