Authors
Abstract
In this work attempt was made to formulate water based boehmite (AlOOH) nanofluid in one and two steps methods. Boehmite is the first born alumina phase as prepared by sol gel route using aluminum isopropoxide precursor, exhibit a combination of excellent consistency and dispersibility in water. Plain nanofluids containing boehmite at different concentrations were investigated for colloidal, suspensions and/or dispersions stability and thermal conductivity enhancement. X-ray diffraction analysis, laser diffraction particle size analysis, viscosity, thermal conductivity measurements, TG/DSC thermal analysis and sedimentation balance were used as characterization tools. The results show promising long-term fluid stability and thermal conductivity enhancement relative to starting based fluid following non-linear dependence on particles concentration. The maximum 2.7 times enhancement in thermal conductivity occurred at narrow boehmite concentration range as a result of achieving optimum nanoparticles aggregation level where neither the case of nanoparticles homogenous dispersion nor the case of fully aggregated clusters could retain these enhancements values. This far beyond behavior from Maxwell's model was explained on the basis of the known mechanisms of thermal conductivity enhancement of nanofluids.
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