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Mechanical Engineering Commons

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Nanoscience and Nanotechnology

Theses/Dissertations

Minnesota State University, Mankato

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Full-Text Articles in Mechanical Engineering

Study Of Role Of Meniscus And Viscous Forces During Liquid-Mediated Contacts Separation, Prabin Dhital Jan 2016

Study Of Role Of Meniscus And Viscous Forces During Liquid-Mediated Contacts Separation, Prabin Dhital

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Menisci may form between two solid surfaces with the presence of an ultra-thin liquid film. When the separation operation is needed, meniscus and viscous forces contribute to an adhesion leading stiction, high friction, possibly high wear and potential failure of the contact systems, for instance microdevices, magnetic head disks and diesel fuel injectors. The situation may become more pronounced when the contacting surfaces are ultra-smooth and the normal load is small. Various design parameters, such as contact angle, initial separation height, surface tension and liquid viscosity, have been investigated during liquid-mediated contact separation. However, how the involved forces will change …


Thermal Conductivity Of Alumina And Silica Nanofluids, Julian Bernal Castellanos Jan 2014

Thermal Conductivity Of Alumina And Silica Nanofluids, Julian Bernal Castellanos

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This thesis studies the effects of the base fluid, particle type/size, and volumetric concentration on the thermal conductivity of Alumina and Silica nanofluids. The effects of base fluid were observed by preparing samples using ethylene glycol (EG), water, and mixtures of EG/water as the base fluid and Al2O3 (10 nm) nanoparticles. The particles type/size and volumetric concentration effects were tested by preparing samples of nanofluids using Al2O3 (10nm), Al2O3 (150nm), SiO2 (15 nm), and SiO2 (80 nm) nanoparticles and ionized water as base fluid at different volumetric concentrations. All samples were mixed using a sonicator for 30 minutes and a …