Thermal conductivity and dispersion properties of SDBS decorated ternary nanofluid: Impacts of surfactant inclusion, sonication time and ageing

•Ternary nanofluid prepared dispersing SiO2, TiO2, and ZnO nanoparticles in water.•Sodium Dodecylbenzene Sulfonate (SDBS) was introduced as a surfactant.•Increase in SDBS from Φ = 0 to 1.18, increased the thermal conduction and dispersion.•Maximum thermal conductivity of 6.63 % obtained at 6 h sonication duration at 65 °C.•4.66 % thermal conductivity enhancement is obtained for 20 days old nanofluid. Ternary nanofluids are now under the limelight of research communities due to their thermo-physical and heat transfer characteristics. In this scientific contribution, the effect of surfactant concentration, ageing, and sonication period on the thermal conductivity of ternary nanofluidis presented. A water-based Ternary nanofluid at weight concentration of (φ) of 0.06 % was prepared using SiO2, TiO2, and ZnO nanoparticles by ultrasonication. Sodium Dodecylbenzene Sulfonate (SDBS) was introduced as a surfactant. The stabilities of the samples were analysed by visual inspection, Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), and Zeta potential analysis. The thermal conductivity of nanofluid was measured and the effects of surfactant addition, sonication time, and ageing on the stability and thermal conductivity of ternary nanofluid were examined. By increasing SDBS concentration from φ= 0–1.18 %, the thermal conduction and dispersion increased. Thermal conductivity was enhanced by surfactant addition up to 2.71 % with φ = 1.18 % at 55 °C. Surfactant concentration at φ =1.18 % showed an adverse effect on thermal conductivity enhancement. A maximum of 6.85 % enhancement in thermal conductivity can be obtained by increasing sonication duration up to 6 h at 65 °C. Old nanofluids exhibited larger thermal conductivity than newer ones. The 20 days old nanofluid showed 4.66 % enhancement with φ= 1.18 % at 35 °C. Finally, the authors recommended for an optimization study of surfactant concentration and sonication duration.