Fabrication, Structure, and Thermal Properties of Mg–Cu Alloys as High Temperature PCM for Thermal Energy Storage
This work studied the thermophysical properties of Mg-24%Cu, Mg-31%Cu, and Mg-45%Cu (wt.%) alloys to comprehensively consider the possibility of using them as thermal energy storage (TES) phase change materials (PCMs) used at high temperatures. The microstructure, phase composition, phase change tem...
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Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/15/4246 |
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author | Zheng Sun Liyi Zou Xiaomin Cheng Jiaoqun Zhu Yuanyuan Li Weibing Zhou |
author_facet | Zheng Sun Liyi Zou Xiaomin Cheng Jiaoqun Zhu Yuanyuan Li Weibing Zhou |
author_sort | Zheng Sun |
collection | DOAJ |
description | This work studied the thermophysical properties of Mg-24%Cu, Mg-31%Cu, and Mg-45%Cu (wt.%) alloys to comprehensively consider the possibility of using them as thermal energy storage (TES) phase change materials (PCMs) used at high temperatures. The microstructure, phase composition, phase change temperatures, and enthalpy of these alloys were investigated by an electron probe micro analyzer (EPMA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The XRD and EPMA results indicated that the binary eutectic phase composed of α-Mg and Mg<sub>2</sub>Cu exists in the microstructure of the prepared Mg–Cu series alloys. The microstructure of Mg-24%Cu and Mg-31%Cu is composed of α-Mg matrix and binary eutectic phases, and Mg-45%Cu is composed of primary Mg<sub>2</sub>Cu and binary eutectic phases. The number of eutectic phases is largest in Mg-31%Cu alloy. The DSC curves indicated that the onset melting temperature of Mg-24%Cu, Mg-31%Cu, and Mg-45%Cu alloys were 485, 486, and 485 °C, and the melting enthalpies were 152, 215, and 91 J/g. Thermal expansion and thermal conductivity were also determined, revealing that the Mg–Cu alloys had a low linear thermal expansion coefficient and high thermal conductivity with respect to increasing temperatures. In conclusion, the thermal properties demonstrated that the Mg–Cu alloys can be considered as a potential PCM for TES. |
first_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:11:57Z |
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id | doaj.art-50d4680346e94657bd66af5715c1ad58 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 1996-1944 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:11:57Z |
publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
publisher | MDPI AG |
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series | Materials |
spelling | doaj.art-50d4680346e94657bd66af5715c1ad582023-11-22T05:53:52ZengMDPI AGMaterials1996-19442021-07-011415424610.3390/ma14154246Fabrication, Structure, and Thermal Properties of Mg–Cu Alloys as High Temperature PCM for Thermal Energy StorageZheng Sun0Liyi Zou1Xiaomin Cheng2Jiaoqun Zhu3Yuanyuan Li4Weibing Zhou5School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, ChinaThis work studied the thermophysical properties of Mg-24%Cu, Mg-31%Cu, and Mg-45%Cu (wt.%) alloys to comprehensively consider the possibility of using them as thermal energy storage (TES) phase change materials (PCMs) used at high temperatures. The microstructure, phase composition, phase change temperatures, and enthalpy of these alloys were investigated by an electron probe micro analyzer (EPMA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The XRD and EPMA results indicated that the binary eutectic phase composed of α-Mg and Mg<sub>2</sub>Cu exists in the microstructure of the prepared Mg–Cu series alloys. The microstructure of Mg-24%Cu and Mg-31%Cu is composed of α-Mg matrix and binary eutectic phases, and Mg-45%Cu is composed of primary Mg<sub>2</sub>Cu and binary eutectic phases. The number of eutectic phases is largest in Mg-31%Cu alloy. The DSC curves indicated that the onset melting temperature of Mg-24%Cu, Mg-31%Cu, and Mg-45%Cu alloys were 485, 486, and 485 °C, and the melting enthalpies were 152, 215, and 91 J/g. Thermal expansion and thermal conductivity were also determined, revealing that the Mg–Cu alloys had a low linear thermal expansion coefficient and high thermal conductivity with respect to increasing temperatures. In conclusion, the thermal properties demonstrated that the Mg–Cu alloys can be considered as a potential PCM for TES.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/15/4246magnesium-copper alloylatent heat storagehigh temperature phase change materialsthermal properties |
spellingShingle | Zheng Sun Liyi Zou Xiaomin Cheng Jiaoqun Zhu Yuanyuan Li Weibing Zhou Fabrication, Structure, and Thermal Properties of Mg–Cu Alloys as High Temperature PCM for Thermal Energy Storage Materials magnesium-copper alloy latent heat storage high temperature phase change materials thermal properties |
title | Fabrication, Structure, and Thermal Properties of Mg–Cu Alloys as High Temperature PCM for Thermal Energy Storage |
title_full | Fabrication, Structure, and Thermal Properties of Mg–Cu Alloys as High Temperature PCM for Thermal Energy Storage |
title_fullStr | Fabrication, Structure, and Thermal Properties of Mg–Cu Alloys as High Temperature PCM for Thermal Energy Storage |
title_full_unstemmed | Fabrication, Structure, and Thermal Properties of Mg–Cu Alloys as High Temperature PCM for Thermal Energy Storage |
title_short | Fabrication, Structure, and Thermal Properties of Mg–Cu Alloys as High Temperature PCM for Thermal Energy Storage |
title_sort | fabrication structure and thermal properties of mg cu alloys as high temperature pcm for thermal energy storage |
topic | magnesium-copper alloy latent heat storage high temperature phase change materials thermal properties |
url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/15/4246 |
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