Rheological characteristics of aluminium oxide (AL2O3) based nanolubricant

This paper presents the rheological measurement of aluminium oxide (Al2O3) nanolubricant. The nanolubricant was prepared using the two-step method from dry Al2O3 nanoparticles and Capella D lubricant as base fluid. The dynamic viscosity of the Al2O3 nanolubricant at constant shear rate was measured at atmospheric pressure in the temperature range of 278 K to 323 K for pure based lubricant along with nanolubricant mass concentration of 1%, 2% and 4% with nanoparticle size of 10 nm, 20-30 nm and 80 nm. The measured data was analysed using the linear fit and exponential function fit. The result showed that at constant particle size and concentration, the dynamic viscosity reduces with increase in temperature while at constant temperature, the viscosity increased with nanoparticle concentration. The exponential function fit regression best describe the relationship between the viscosity and temperature when compared with the linear fit regression while the polynomial function fit best describe the relationship between the viscosity and mass concentration. Keywords: Dynamic viscosity, nanolubricant, shear rate, regression, concentration, temperatur