Effect of Surfactant Concentration on Thermal Conductivity and Viscosity of Al₂O₃-ZnO- MWCNT-EG Ternary Nanofluid
J. Environ. Nanotechnol., Volume 15, No 2 (June 2026) pp. 323-329
Abstract
A significant amount of research in the field of nanofluids has shown that these fluids possess remarkable thermophysical properties, which are influenced by various parameters. The present study investigates the effect of surfactant concentration on nanofluids using three types of nanoparticles: Al₂O₃, ZnO, and MWCNT, mixed in the ratio of 60:30:10. The surfactant mass concentration was taken as 0.5 times the total mass of the three nanoparticles. The volume concentration of nanoparticles was varied from 0.01% to 0.05%, while maintaining a constant ratio of 60:30:10. Thermal conductivity and viscosity of the nanofluid were measured over temperature ranges of 25℃ to 35℃ and 40℃ to 70℃, respectively. These properties were compared with a reference nanofluid prepared using the same nanoparticle but with a surfactant concentration of 1/3 times the total nanoparticle mass. The experimental results showed an enhancement in thermal conductivity of 46.43% compared to the reference nanofluid for 0.01% volume concentration and 25℃. A maximum reduction in viscosity of 66.63% was observed at 70℃ for a 0.05% volume concentration. The results showed that the thermal conductivity increased when the concentration of surfactant was increased from 1/3 times to 1/2 times the of total mass of nanoparticles. Also, the viscosity was reduced compared to the reference nanofluid.
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Reference
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