Citation

K S, Clint and Jhonson, Stephen Raj and Kadirgama, Kumaran and Samylingam, Lingenthiran and Aslfattahi, Navid and Kiai, Maryam Sadat and Kok, Chee Kuang and Harun, Wan Sharuzi Wan and Veerendra, A.S. and Subramonian, Sivaraos (2026) Graphene nanofluids for sustainable automotive cooling: Mitigating contamination effects and enhancing engine radiator performance. Nano-Structures & Nano-Objects, 46. p. 101672. ISSN 2352507X

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Abstract

Resourceful thermal management systems are critical for modern automotive engines, particularly as the industry moves toward high-performance, fuel-efficient vehicles, where conventional engine coolants suffer from inherently low thermal conductivity, limiting heat dissipation efficiency. With approximately 33% of combustion energy wasted as heat and traditional cooling enhancement methods reaching their operational limits, there is an urgent need for innovative coolant technologies to meet the demands of compact engine designs and higher power densities. While extensive research exists on metal oxide nanofluids for automotive applications, investigations into graphene-based nanofluids for car radiators remain limited, with most studies focusing solely on thermophysical property enhancement without considering real-world contamination effects, creating a significant knowledge gap regarding practical implementation and long-term performance reliability. This research aimed to synthesize graphene nanofluids with PLLR coolant, evaluate their thermal conductivity and viscosity properties, determine heat dissipation performance in car radiators, and investigate the impact of contamination on cooling efficiency. In this research GNP@PLLRC nanofluids were prepared at concentrations of 0.01%, 0.03%, 0.05%, 0.07%, and 0.09% (wt%) using a two-step method involving magnetic stirring and sonication, with comprehensive characterization performed using FTIR, XRD, SEM-EDX, and UV-Vis spectroscopy, while thermal conductivity and viscosity were measured using the METER Tempos Analyzer and Brookfield Viscometer, respectively, and performance evaluation was conducted using a Perodua Kancil cooling system with cyclic tests of 30 min and 1 h duration. Results showed a strong synergistic effect between temperature (30–70°C) and graphene concentration, with 0.09 wt% achieving optimal thermal conductivity (0.443 W/m·K at 70°C) and lowest viscosity (2.34 cP at 70°C), outperforming the base fluid. Contamination reduced thermal conductivity by up to 30% and cooling efficiency by 8%, confirming the critical importance of system cleanliness for reliable automotive cooling performance. This research investigates and attempts to close the gap by using and experimentally measuring the effects of GNP-PLLRC NF in full automotive radiators. This research systematically measuring the effect of realistic coolant contamination on the heat dissipating. This study represents a novel radiator-scale investigation that combines graphene-based coolants considering contamination and illustrates their potential application in high-performance compact engines. This research validates graphene nanofluids as superior alternatives to conventional coolants, offering potential for compact radiator designs with enhanced cooling efficiency, with significant implications for high-performance and electric vehicle applications, while highlighting the critical need for contamination-resistant formulations in practical automotive thermal management systems.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	T Technology > TL Motor vehicles. Aeronautics. Astronautics > TL1-484 Motor vehicles. Cycles
Divisions:	Faculty of Engineering and Technology (FET)
Depositing User:	Ms Suzilawati Abu Samah
Date Deposited:	05 Jun 2026 07:24
Last Modified:	05 Jun 2026 07:24
URII:	http://shdl.mmu.edu.my/id/eprint/16055

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