The noble effect of aging on the thermal conductivity of modified CNTs-ethylene glycol nanofluids

摘要

In order to improve the heat transfer process by using nanofluids, different nanoparticles and base fluids have been studied. In this work, stability and effect of aging and temperature on the thermal conductivity of CNTs-ethylene glycol (EG) nanofluids were investigated. Chemical functionalisation was used to oxidise the surface of CNTs. The functionalised CNTs were used to prepare the nanofluids by a two-step method. The stability of nanofluids was measured by UV-vis spectroscopy and the results showed that the nanofluids had a good stability over several days. Immediately after nanofluid preparation not too much increase was observed for thermal conductivity but the nanofluid aging had a great influence on the improvement of the thermal conductivity, as after 65 days, about 50% increase was observed. The increase has been attributed to forming an ordered nanolayer of EG molecules around the CNTs. Also no significant temperature dependence of thermal conductivity was observed up to 50 degrees C possibly due to the lack of temperature dependence of CNTs Brownian motions.