Ultrasonic properties of nanoparticles-liquid suspensions ☆

Abstract A polymer colloidal solution having dispersed nanoparticles of Cu and Au metals have been developed using a novel chemical method. Average size of the nanoparticles could be varied in the 4–10 nm range by conducting the reaction at an elevated temperature of 50–70 °C. Colloidal solutions of representative concentrations of 0.1–2.0 wt% Cu/Au contents in the primary solutions are used to study the modified ultrasonic attenuation and ultrasonic velocity in PVA polymer molecules on incorporating the Cu/Au particles. A characteristic behaviour of the ultrasonic velocity and the attenuation are observed at the particular temperature/particle concentration. The results demonstrate that the primary reaction during the nanoparticles-PVA colloidal formation occurs in divided groups in small micelles. The results are analyzed predicting the enhanced thermal conductivity of the samples.