Erosion-corrosion synergism in an alumina/sea water nanofluid

Since nanofluids increase the thermal conductivity of a fluid mixture compared with the base fluid, it is important to investigate any damaging effects caused by the presence of the solid particles. Thus, this paper explores the nanofluid synergistic effects produced by the addition of 1 g dm(-3) Al2O3 nanoparticles to sea water and compares the performance with the base fluid without nanoparticles. Studies are conducted on carbon steel, using a hydrodynamically smooth-rotating cylinder electrode in turbulent flow at 298 K. The pure corrosion rate and erosion rate of carbon steel in the fluids free of nanoparticles are, respectively, higher (up to 82 %) and lower (ca. 11 %) than in the nanofluids. The synergistic effect of erosion and corrosion in a nanofluid is much higher (up to 237 %) than in the base fluid. These results indicate that the presence of nanoparticles in a flowing fluid could lead to considerable rates of material loss.