Effect of surface tension on nanotube nanofluids

Abstract

This letter presents heat transfer results that single-walled carbon nanotube (CNT) suspensions in a boiling environment can extend the saturated boiling regime and postpone catastrophic failure of the material even further than previously reported if the surface tension of the nanofluid is carefully controlled. The maximum enhancement in the critical heat flux is nearly four times for a surfactant to CNT concentration ratio of 1:5. The experimental results show that the material burnout is a strong function of the relaxation of the nanofluid surface tension with the base fluid.