Nanofluids is a relatively new class of thermal fluids and are claimed to improve the heat transfer characteristics of the original fluid. By using nanofluids as the cooling fluid in the heat sink it is expected to further improve its thermal performance. However, the main property of a nanofluid in a two phase cooling system is wettability.

Experiments are conducted to quantify the changes in the contact angle and interfacial tension using a nanofluid composed of silica nanoparticles dispersed in water on a  hydrophilic surface (silicon wafer). Surface tension and equilibrium contact angle are obtained with a goniometric. A 3D drop-shape analysis based on a Laser Scanning Confocal Microscope (LSCM) allows evaluating the effects produced by the presence of nanoparticles near the solid substrate into the triple contact line, thereby elucidating the change in the wettability of the solid substrate.

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