Effect of Ceramic Nanoparticles on Nanofluids Electrical Conductivity

Abstract

Abstract In this study, an extensive experimental evaluation is conducted on the electrical conductivity of water based nanofluids containing three types of ceramic nanoparticles of (Al2O3, CuO and ZrO2) with different nanoparticles concentrations of (0.05, 0.1, 0.15 and 0.2 vol. %) and for various temperatures ranged by (20-80 °C) by using deionized water as a base fluid. The nanofluids volume (water/nanoparticles) is used at (200 ml). The nanofluid sample mixes slowly by stirring and ultrasonic vibration sonicator with power of (50 W) for a maximum time of (15-20 minutes) to break up any particle aggregates with no any surfactant that is added into the nanofluids to avoid reunion. The electrical conductivity of nanofluids is measured by electrical conductivity meter. Results indicate that the effect of solution temperature on the nanofluids electrical conductivity has little effect in the range of 20–40 °C, but the effect of temperature is increased in the temperature range of 40–80 °C. Also, the percent of electrical conductivity enhancement is 80%, 75% and 50 % when using the nanofluids of CuO, Al2O3 and ZrO2 respectively. Finally, the theoretical model of Maxwell is used to compare with the present experimental results and it gives an agreements.