Synthesis and experimental investigation of the electrical conductivity of water based magnetite nanofluids

Abstract

In this study, magnetite, Fe3O4, nanoparticles were synthesized by chemical co-precipitation technique at different conditions. The products were characterized using X-ray diffraction, transmission electronic microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The electrical conductivity of nanofluids was nvestigated at different volume fractions and temperatures. Experimental measurements indicated considerable enhancement of electrical conductivity of Fe3O4 nanofluids with increase in both volume fraction and temperature under our experimental conditions. The results were compared with Shen's model, an electrical conductivity model previously developed for nanofluids. Survey results indicated that this model is largely able to explain the mechanism of Fe3O4 nanofluid electrical conductivity especially at low concentrations.