An Analysis of the Quenching Performance of a Copper Nanofluid Prepared Using Laser Ablation

Abstract

The quenching performance of a copper nanofluid (copper nanoparticles in deionized water), prepared using laser ablation, is compared to deionized water in both the still and agitated state. The nanoparticles significantly enhanced heat extraction in the still condition, increasing the average cooling rate within the critical temperature range for low alloy steel phase transformations (850–300 آ°C) from 152 آ°C/s to 180 آ°C/s, approximately the same rate as highly agitated deionized water. The nanofluid under low levels of agitation saw a decrease in quenching performance relative to the still condition, while higher levels of agitation showed similar levels of heat extraction to that of agitated deionized water. The losses of Brownian motion and microlayering mechanisms are suggested as potential causes for the reduction in the performance of agitated nanofluids.