Effect Of Tio2 Nanofluid Quenching On Mild Steel Mechanical Properties

Abstract

Nanofluids are an innovative type of quenching medium that involves colloidal suspensions of nanoparticles in a base fluid, leading to enhanced heat transfer properties. The present study aims to examine the effectiveness of quenching mild steel using a quenching medium with dispersed nanoparticles. Various concentrations of nanofluids were prepared by adding 21 nm Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles to Ethylene Glycol (EG). Five different volume concentrations (0.1%, 0.3%, 0.5%, 0.7% and 1.0%) of nanofluids were experimented with. Mild steel rods were heated to 900°C and rapidly quenched using the nanofluid. The extent of hardness is examined at multiple intervals to evaluate the variation in hardness of quenched specimens. In terms of stability, the 1.0% test solution demonstrates sustained superior dispersion with minimal sedimentation. Higher concentrations consistently demonstrated greater absorbance values, with the 1.0% solution displaying the highest absorption at all wavelengths. Furthermore, there is 1.0% stability at -42.33 mV, indicating exceptional stability and effective particle repulsion. Microscopic analysis reveals that mild steel quenched in 21nm nanofluids contains martensite and pearlite phases, indicating how the accelerated cooling process modified the material's crystal structure. In the hardness test, a 1.0% treatment resulted in favourable outcomes of 210 Hv to 217 Hv, whereas the untreated samples exhibited hardness levels of 180 Hv to 204 Hv. The findings indicate that a volume concentration of 1.0% was found to be the most effective, showcasing superior performance in facilitating efficient quenching processes and achieving maximum hardness in mild steel samples.