Entropy generation and Cattaneo–Christov heat flux analysis of binary and ternary hybrid Maxwell nanofluid flows with slip and convective conditions

Hybrid nanomaterials significantly enhance thermal systems through improved thermal conductivity, efficient energy storage, and customized thermomechanical properties. Due to their superior thermophysical characteristics, binary/ternary hybrid nanofluids are crucial in fields such as industry, biomedicine, transportation, and pharmaceuticals. This study examines the hydromagnetic flows and heat transfer properties of binary (CuO+Fe3O4/sodium alginate) and ternary (CuO+Fe3O4+MoS2/sodium alginate) hybrid Maxwell nanofluids over a radially stretching rotating disk. The governing flow equations incorporate Cattaneo–Christov heat flux, mixed convection, velocity and thermal slips, nonlinear radiation, viscous dissipation, and Joule heating in a Darcy–Forchheimer porous medium. These axisymmetric partial differential equations are transformed into ordinary differential equations using similarity variables, and the spectral quasilinearization method (SQLM) is applied for numerical solutions. Results reveal the effects of relevant parameters on velocity, temperature, skin friction, and heat transfer rates. Novelty lies in the comparative analysis of flow behaviors and entropy production rates between binary and ternary hybrid Maxwell nanofluids. When the heat source is included, the Nusselt number increases by 12.9% for ternary nanofluids and 16.07% for binary nanofluids as the thermal relaxation number increases from 0.5 to 1.5. Furthermore, the ternary hybrid nanofluid shows greater resistance to Lorentz and porous medium forces and exhibits a higher temperature distribution and better thermal management capabilities compared to the binary hybrid nanofluid.