Abstract

Ethylene glycol-based Cu nanofluids were prepared by pulsed wire evaporation (PWE) method. The structural properties of Cu nanoparticles were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The average diameter and Brunauer Emmett Teller (BET) surface area of Cu nanoparticles were about 100 nm and 7.46;m2/g, respectively. The thermal conductivity and viscosity of copper nanofluid were measured as functions of Cu concentration and temperature. As the volume fraction of Cu nanoparticles increased, both the enhanced ratios of thermal conductivity and viscosity of Cu nanofluids increased. As the temperature increased, the enhanced ratio of thermal conductivity increased, but that ratio of viscosity decreased.

• Keywords: Nanofluid;Thermal conductivity;Viscosity;Copper;Pulsed wire evaporation;