Effect of nanoparticles saturation on the surface tension of nanofluids

The present work focuses on the surface tension of nanofluids. An empirical model of the surface tension of nanofluids and a mechanism for the influence of nanoparticles on the value of this property are pro-posed. The paper explains the processes causing an increase as well as a decrease in the surface tension of nanofluids and why the value of the surface tension changes with increasing nanoparticle concentra-tion only within a certain range. A mathematical function is presented to model this behaviour and pre-dict both the maximum value of the surface tension and the nanoparticle concentration at which this value is reached. For the verification of the model, experimental studies of the surface tension of four types of ethylene glycol -based nanofluids indium oxide (In2O3), titanium oxide (TiO2), zinc oxide (ZnO) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) at a temperature of 298.15 K were carried out. The proposed model agrees well with the obtained surface tension values of the investigated nanofluids.(c) 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Automated summary

This paper proposes an empirical model for the surface tension of nanofluids and presents a mechanism for the influence of nanoparticles on this property. It explains the processes causing an increase or decrease in the surface tension and why the value changes within a certain range with increasing nanoparticle concentration. Experimental studies were conducted to verify the model, and the results were consistent with the predicted surface tension values.