Dispersion and Thermal Characteristics of Functionalized Nanoparticles in Oilbased Nanofluids

Nanofluids have gained great interest among investigators due to its promising
outlook on heat transfer enhancement and many potential applications such as
cooling processes, drug delivery systems and micro-manufacturing processes.
Nanofluids added with nanometer-sized (1-100nm) solid particles of metal, metal
oxide or carbon shows improved heat transfer efficiency. Multiple reports on
different types of water-based nanofluids have been published. Despite water being
used as the base fluid in numerous experimental studies, the low boiling point of
water limits industrial applications which require higher temperature operating
conditions. A novel approach of introducing oil as base fluids widens the heattransfer applications of nanofluids. However, due to the low thermal conductivity of
oil, nanoparticles can be introduced into the fluid such that the thermal conductivity
of oil-based nanofluids is expected to be higher than the conventional heat transfer
fluids. The agglomeration of nanoparticles due to intermolecular attractive forces
disrupts the stability of nanofluids and decreases the overall thermal conductivity of
nanofluids.