Abstract

In this research, the flow behavior and stability of Aluminum oxide (Al2O3) nanoparticles(NPs)/Poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) solutions were studied. PVA was mixed with 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2 weight percent (wt. %) of AL2O3 NPs. The cone plate rheometer was used to check the viscosity, due to the shear rate and concentration. The results show that the viscosity of PVA/AL2O3 NPs solution increase with the increase of shear rate, shear thickening, while decrease with the concentration. Then, the results fit to the fluid models by using a Rheocalc program. The flow behavior of the Poly(vinyl alcohol)/AL2O3 NPs solutions displayed solution characteristics that closely agreed with the Herschel–Bulkley fluid model. Beside that, the samples were examined also by other tests, such as Tensometer and pH meter, to predict and explain the flow performance mechanisms. In addition, after solvent evaporation, the solid samples were tested by the atomic force microscope (AFM) to understand the stability of Al2O3 NPs in the solid state and prove prediction technique more deeply, while the force attractions between polymer chains and NPs were figured out by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR).

Keywords: Flow Behavior, Poly vinyl alcohol, Viscosity, Al2O3 Nanoparticles, shear thickening flow,