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Compatibility of 3D-Printed Oxide Ceramics with Molten Chloride Salts for High-Temperature Thermal Energy Storage in Next-Generation CSP Plants
- Source :
- Energies, Vol 14, Iss 9, p 2599 (2021)
- Publication Year :
- 2021
- Publisher :
- MDPI AG, 2021.
-
Abstract
- Oxide ceramics could be attractive high-temperature construction materials for critical structural parts in high-temperature molten salt thermal energy storage systems due to their excellent corrosion resistance and good mechanical properties. The 3D-printing technology allows the production of ceramic components with highly complex geometries, and therefore extends their applications. In this work, 3D-printed ZrO2 and Al2O3 ceramics were immersed in molten MgCl2/KCl/NaCl under argon or exposed in argon without molten chlorides at 700 °C for 600 h. Their material properties and microstructure were investigated through three-point-bend (3PB) testing and material analysis with SEM-EDX and XRD. The results show that the 3D-printed Al2O3 maintained its mechanical property after exposure in the strongly corrosive molten chloride salt. The 3D-printed ZrO2 had an enhanced 3PB strength after molten salt exposure, whereas no change was observed after exposure in argon at 700 °C. The material analysis shows that some of the ZrO2 on the sample surface changed its crystal structure and shape (T→M phase transformation) after molten salt exposure, which could be the reason for the enhanced 3PB strength. The thermodynamic calculation shows that the T→M transformation could be caused by the reaction of the Y2O3-stabilized ZrO2 with MgCl2 (mainly Y2O3 and ZrO2 with gaseous MgCl2). In conclusion, the 3D-printed ZrO2 and Al2O3 ceramics have excellent compatibility with corrosive molten chlorides at high temperatures and thus show a sound application potential as construction materials for molten chlorides.
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 19961073
- Volume :
- 14
- Issue :
- 9
- Database :
- Directory of Open Access Journals
- Journal :
- Energies
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- edsdoj.3226b81c64784715a82ba6797da4ca80
- Document Type :
- article
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.3390/en14092599