Evaluation of Stabilization and Physical–Chemical Properties of CNT Antifreeze Nanofluid Prepared in 50:50 EG/Water by Modified Strategy

Abstract

This article proposes a better alternative method to prepare CNT antifreeze nanofluid in EG/water by modifying the conventional method that requires long hours of sonication. Sonicating a sample for long hours is time and energy consuming and may deform the structure of CNT. In the modified method, the nanofluid preparation was carried out by dispersion of CNT in EG via sonication followed by adding water and again sonication. The study shows that nanofluid could be prepared in less sonication time of 1.5 h compared to the 5 h required in the conventional method. FTIR spectroscopy revealed that interaction of EG with CNT occurs via trans conformation resulting in greater stabilization and better interaction of nanofluid prepared by this method (85 days) as compared to nanofluid prepared by the conventional method (50 days). The nanofluid prepared by this method has better physical–chemical properties compared to nanofluid prepared by the conventional method. The nanofluid prepared by this method showed higher stability and better physical–chemical properties at a lower sonication time. Hence it is a more effective and cost efficient technique for preparing CNT (EG/water) nanofluid.

Keywords

• CNT
• antifreeze
• nanofluid
• heat-transfer
• sonication
• stability