Nanofluids, the fluid suspensions of nanomaterials, have shown many interesting properties, and the distinctive features offer unprecedented potential for many applications. This paper summarizes the recent progress on the study of nanofluids, such as the preparation methods, the evaluation methods for the stability of nanofluids, and the ways to enhance the stability for nanofluids, the stability mechanisms of nanofluids, and presents the broad range of current and future applications in various fields including energy and mechanical and biomedical fields. At last, the paper identifies the opportunities for future research.

Poly(epsilon-caprolactone)/polylactide blend (PCL/PLA) is an interesting biomaterial because PCL and PLA present good complementarity in their physical properties and biodegradability. However, the thermodynamic incompatibility between two component polymers restricts further applications of their blend. In this work, we used functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) to control the morphology of immiscible PCL/PLA blend. The ternary PCL/PLA/MWCNTs composites were hence prepared by melt mixing for the morphology and the properties investigation. It is interesting to find that the functionalized MWCNTs are selectively dispersed in the matrix PCL phase and on the interface between two polymer phases, leading to simultaneous occurrence of thermodynamically and kinetically driven compatibility. Those interface-localized MWCNTs prevent coalescence of the discrete domains and enhance the phase interfacial adhesion as well. As a result, the phase morphology of the ternary composites is improved remarkably in contrast to that of the blank PCL/PLA blend. Owing to that unique selective interface-localization and improved phase morphology, the ternary composites present far lower rheological and conductive percolation thresholds than those of the binary composites, and also present extraordinary mechanical properties even at very low loading levels of the MWCNTs. Therefore, the amphiphilic MWCNTs are believed to act as the reinforcements as well as the compatibilizer in the immiscible PCL/PLA blend.

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