Factors Effecting the Electrical Conductivity and Zeta Potential of Alumina Nanofluids

Abstract

This study investigates of the effect of nanoparticle volume fractions, NaCl concentration and pH on size of agglomerates, electrical conductivity and zeta potential of alumina nanofluids. The volume fractions used were 1, 2, 3 and 5 vol%. Different base fluids were prepared by adding NaCl (100, 300 and 500 ppm) or adjusting the pH (9, 7, 5 and 3). The results showed that the size of nanoparticle agglomerates was increased with an increase in nanoparticles concentration and NaCl concentration. Also, the electrical conductivity was increased with an increase in nanoparticle concentration and NaCl concentration. The size of nanoparticle agglomerates was 110 nm and the electrical conductivity was 290.2 μS/cm at pH 3 and 0 ppm, which was the highest value of electrical conductivity and smallest agglomerates nanoparticle size at 1 vol% with no salt. The highest value was 1830 μS/cm at pH 9 and 500 ppm of NaCl with 5 vol% of nanoparticles.