Wetting kinematics and spreading behaviour of water based aluminium nanofluids during immersion quenching

Abstract

In the present work, wetting kinematics of water based aluminium nanofluids having nanoparticle concentrations varying from 0.001 to 0.5 vol.-% during immersion quenching of Inconel 600 probe was investigated by measuring the contact resistance. The contact resistance between the quench probe and counter electrode during quenching indicated that the duration of the film of water vapour decreased with increasing nanoparticle concentration as well as absence of stable vapour film formation with 0.05, 0.1 and 0.5 vol.-% of nanoparticles. The phenomenon of a repeated wetting process was observed during quenching in nanofluids. Further, quenching in 0.1 and 0.5 vol.-% nanofluids indicated the formation of a nanoparticle porous layer and its deposition on the quench probe. The spreading behaviour was studied by measuring the dynamic contact angle of nanofluids droplets on Inconel 600 substrate. Contact angle measurement showed that the addition of aluminium nanoparticles did not have a significant effect on the relaxation of contact angle of water droplet. However, lower static contact angles were obtained for nanofluids indicating improved wetting. © 2013 IHTSE Partnership.