Abstract
Transport properties of nanofluids are extensively studied last decade. This has been motivated by the use of nanosized systems in various applications. The viscosity of nanofluids is of great significance as the application of nanofluids is always associated with their flow. However, despite the fairly large amount of available experimental information, there is a lack of systematic data on this issue and experimental results are often contradictory. The purpose of this review is to identify the typical parameters determining the viscosity of nanofluids. The dependence of the nanofluid viscosity on the particles concentration, their size and temperature is analyzed. It is explained why the viscosity of nanofluid does not described by the classical theories. It was shown that size of nanoparticles is the key characteristics of nanofluids. In addition the nanofluid is more structural liquid than the base one.
Highlights
Nanofluid is a two-phase system consisting of a carrier medium and nanoparticles
The viscosity of nanofluids is of great significance as the application of nanofluids is always associated with their flow
The purpose of this review is to identify the typical parameters determining the viscosity of nanofluids
Summary
Nanofluid is a two-phase system consisting of a carrier medium (liquid or gas) and nanoparticles. In contrast to large dispersed particles, nanoparticles do not sediment and erode the channels in which they move For these and some other reasons, nanofluids have already been successfully used, or are proposed for use, in chemical processes, including catalysis, for cooling devices, in various bio-, MEMS-, and nanotechnologies, in the development of thermal enrgy production and transport systems, in pharmaceutical and cosmetic products, for pollution detection and air and water purification systems, as lubrication materials and drug delivery systems. This list can be extended, but the transport properties and flow patterns of nanofluids play a key role in these applications. We note only that in almost all studies, nanofluids are prepared using the so-called two-step method [9,10], in which a nanopowder containing particles of a given size is added in a certain ratio to the carrier (base) fluid
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