An Experimental Investigation of the Stability and Thermophysical Properties of MWCNT Nanofluids in a Water–Ethylene Glycol Mixture
Edwin Martin Cárdenas Contreras, Ênio Pedone Bandarra Filho, Gleyzer Martins
Abstract
This study investigates the thermophysical properties of multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) nanofluids dispersed in a water–ethylene glycol (50:50%) mixture. The nanofluids were prepared using a two-step method involving ultrasonication and high-pressure homogenization. The stability of the nanofluids was assessed using UV-Vis spectrophotometry over a period of 30 days. The results indicated a maximum decrease of 10% in the relative concentration, with no visible agglomeration or sedimentation. Thermal conductivity, viscosity, and density were experimentally measured at different temperatures and volumetric concentrations (0.025%, 0.05%, and 0.1%). The thermal conductivity of the nanofluids increased with both concentration and temperature, showing an enhancement of up to 10% at 50 °C for 0.1% vol. MWCNTs. The viscosity measurements revealed a maximum increase of 11% at 80 °C, while the density showed a slight increase with nanoparticle concentration and a decrease with temperature. The models proposed for estimating thermal conductivity (maximum deviation 1.5%) and viscosity (maximum deviation 3%) were found to be suitable, exhibiting good agreement with the experimental results. The results align with previous studies, reinforcing the role of Brownian motion and nanoparticle interactions in heat transfer enhancement. This study provides insights into the stability and thermophysical behavior of MWCNT nanofluids, contributing to their potential applications in thermal management systems.