Viscosity and density of CuO nanolubricant

This paper presents liquid kinematic viscosity and density measurements of a synthetic polyolester based copper (II) oxide (CuO) nanoparticle dispersion (nanolubricant) at atmospheric pressure for a temperature range from approximately 288 K to 318 K. The polyolester was a commercially available chiller lubricant. The CuO particles were approximately 30 nm diameter, spherical, and well dispersed in the lubricant. Viscosity and density measurements were made for the pure base lubricant along with three nanolubricants with differing nanoparticle mass fractions (2.9%, 5.6% and 39.2%). The viscosity and the density were shown to increase with respect to increasing nanoparticle mass fraction. Correlations of the viscosity and the density are presented as a function of temperature and nanoparticle concentration. The measurements are important for the design of nanolubricants for heat transfer and flow applications.