Nor Ishida Zainal Abidin

A facile, bio-based, novel approach for synthesis of covalently functionalized graphene nanoplatelet nano-coolants toward improved thermo-physical and heat transfer properties

In this study, we synthesized covalently functionalized graphene nanoplatelet (GNP) aqueous suspensions that are highly stable and environmentally friendly for use as coolants in heat transfer systems. We evaluated the heat transfer and hydrodynamic properties of these nano-coolants flowing through a horizontal stainless steel tube subjected to a uniform heat flux at its outer surface. The GNPs functionalized with clove buds using the one-pot technique. We characterized the clove-treated GNPs (CGNPs) using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). We then dispersed the CGNPs in distilled water at three particle concentrations (0.025, 0.075 and 0.1wt%) in order to prepare the CGNP-water nanofluids (nano-coolants). We used ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy to examine the stability and solubility of the CGNPs in the distilled water. There is significant enhancement in thermo-physical properties of CGNPs nanofluids relative those for distilled water. We validated our experimental set-up by comparing the friction factor and Nusselt number for distilled water obtained from experiments with those determined from empirical correlations, indeed, our experimental set-up is reliable and produces results with reasonable accuracy. We conducted heat transfer experiments for the CGNP-water nano-coolants flowing through the horizontal heated tube in fully developed turbulent condition. Our results are indeed promising since there is a significant enhancement in the Nusselt number and convective heat transfer coefficient for the CGNP-water nanofluids, with only a negligible increase in the friction factor and pumping power. More importantly, we found that there is a significant increase in the performance index, which is a positive indicator that our nanofluids have potential to substitute conventional coolants in heat transfer systems because of their overall thermal performance and energy savings benefits.

Magnesium corrosion in different solutions

The corrosion mechanism of Mg alloys in Hank’s solution was elucidated by comparing the corrosion of typical Mg alloys (AZ91, ZE41 and Mg2Zn0.2Mn) and high purity Mg in Hank’s solution at room temperature and in 3% NaCl saturated with Mg(OH)2. Corrosion was characterised by the evolved hydrogen and the surfaces after the immersion tests. Corrosion in Hank’s solution was weakly influenced by microstructure in contrast to corrosion in the 3% NaCl solution, where second phases cause strong micro-galvanic acceleration. This is attributed to the formation of a more protective surface film in Hank’s solution, causing extra resistance between the alpha-Mg matrix and the second phase. The incubation period in Hank’s solution was alloy dependent.