DOI: https://doi.org/10.55373/mjchem.v27i3.613

Keywords: Nanofluid; heat transfer; nano-MgO; characterization; viscosity

Abstract

The development of efficient thermal management systems has become increasingly important across various industries. This study investigates the thermophysical properties of nano-MgO/water nanofluids, synthesized using a two-step method with sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) as a stabilizing surfactant. Nano-MgO particles were dispersed in distilled water at varying volume concentrations of 0%, 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3%, and 0.4%. Comprehensive characterization was conducted to evaluate viscosity, specific heat capacity, density, shear behavior, and thermal conductivity. Results demonstrated that the addition of nano-MgO enhanced the density and thermal conductivity of the base fluid while inducing a modest increase in viscosity. The specific heat capacity exhibited a slight decrease with rising nanoparticle concentration. The rheological studies confirmed that the nanofluids maintained Newtonian behavior across all tested concentrations and shear rates. Furthermore, thermal conductivity improvements were more pronounced at higher temperatures and concentrations, indicating enhanced heat transfer potential. These findings suggest that nano-MgO/water nanofluids, particularly at concentrations around 0.2–0.3 vol.%, offer a promising balance between thermal performance enhancement and manageable flow resistance, making them suitable for a range of heat transfer applications.