Electrical conductivity of ethylene glycol based nanofluids with different types of thulium oxide nanoparticles

Abstract

The paper presents experimental investigation on electrical conductivity of thulium oxides-ethylene glycol (Tm2O3-EG) nanofluids based on nanoparticles with three different sizes, and prepared in different conditions. Nanofluids were prepared with two-step method with use of the nanoparticles obtained by precipitation method. Measurements were conducted at constant temperature 293.15 K for various mass concentrations from 0% to 20% with 5% step. The electrical conductivity was measured using conductivity meter MultiLine 3410 (WTW GmBH, Weilheim, Germany) and temperature was stabilized in a water bath MLL 547 (AJL Electronic, Cracow, Poland). The results indicate that increase in mass concentration of nanoparticles in base fluid causes increase in electrical conductivity of Tm2O3-EG nanofluids. The enhancement in electrical conductivity of nanosuspensions of thulium oxide is dependent on particle size.