Investigation of viscosity and thermal conductivity of SiC nanofluids for heat transfer applications

Nanofluids are nanotechnology-based colloidal dispersions engineered by stably suspending nanoparticles. Transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscope images are acquired to characterize the shape and size of SiC nanoparticles, because the properties of the nanofluids depend on the morphologies of nanoparticles. The dispersion behavior for SiC/deionized water (DIW) nanofluids were investigated under different pH values and characterized with the zeta potential values. The isoelectric point of SiC/DIW nanofluid was identified in terms of colloidal stability. Then their viscosity and thermal conductivity were investigated as a function of volume fraction to evaluate SiC/DIW nanofluids' potential to function as more effective working fluids in heat transfer applications. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.