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Journals / Journal of the Turkish Chemical Society Section B: Chemical Engineering / 2026 / Volume: 2026 Issue: 2

Effect of Surfactant Concentration and Nanoparticle Loading on the Thermal Conductivity and Viscosity of Aluminum Oxide/Water Nanofluids

Ali Rahman Ali Alburgheef(CANKIRI KARATEKIN UNIVERSITY)0009-0003-3945-4616
Semahat Doruk(ÇANKIRI KARATEKİN ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0001-8476-2544
Pages
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Publication Date
2026-06-03
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

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⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

The results showed that thermal conductivity increased with both nanoparticle concentration and surfactant amount, with a maximum enhancement of approximately 4–5% compared to the base fluid.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:This study experimentally investigates the effects of surfactant concentration and nanoparticle volume fraction on the thermophysical properties of Al₂O₃/water-based nanofluids under ambient conditions.
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Key Findings & Data:Nanofluids were prepared using a two-step method with three nanoparticle volume fractions (0.01, 0.05, and 0.1 vol.%) and three surfactant amounts (0.05, 0.10, and 0.15 g).
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Conclusion & Impact:The results showed that thermal conductivity increased with both nanoparticle concentration and surfactant amount, with a maximum enhancement of approximately 4–5% compared to the base fluid.
🔬Design:Modeling & Simulation
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Al₂O₃ nanofluid · surfactant concentration · thermal conductivity

Abstract

This study experimentally investigates the effects of surfactant concentration and nanoparticle volume fraction on the thermophysical properties of Al₂O₃/water-based nanofluids under ambient conditions. Nanofluids were prepared using a two-step method with three nanoparticle volume fractions (0.01, 0.05, and 0.1 vol.%) and three surfactant amounts (0.05, 0.10, and 0.15 g). Thermal conductivity and dynamic viscosity were measured to evaluate the combined influence of formulation parameters on heat transfer performance and flow behavior. The results showed that thermal conductivity increased with both nanoparticle concentration and surfactant amount, with a maximum enhancement of approximately 4–5% compared to the base fluid. Dynamic viscosity also increased, reaching about 15–20% higher than that of pure water under the same conditions. These findings indicate a clear trade-off between thermal conductivity enhancement and viscosity increase. While higher surfactant concentrations may influence particle distribution within the suspension and contribute to thermal conductivity enhancement, they also lead to increased flow resistance. Therefore, careful optimization of surfactant concentration is required to achieve a balance between improved thermal performance and acceptable viscosity characteristics. This work provides a systematic evaluation of surfactant concentration under ambient conditions and offers useful insight into formulation-oriented nanofluid design.

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Cite This Article

Alburgheef, A. R. A., Doruk, S. (2026). Effect of Surfactant Concentration and Nanoparticle Loading on the Thermal Conductivity and Viscosity of Aluminum Oxide/Water Nanofluids. Journal of the Turkish Chemical Society Section B: Chemical Engineering, Volume: 2026 Issue: 2. https://doi.org/10.58692/jotcsb.1915490

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