Processing and Seebeck Effect Measurement of a Bismuth Based Alloy
Johann Van Bel
Department of Mechanical Engineering, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona 3801 W Temple Avenue, Pomona, CA 91768, USA
Christopher Tong
Department of Mechanical Engineering, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona 3801 W Temple Avenue, Pomona, CA 91768, USA
Ryan N. Gan
Diamond Bar High School, 21400 Pathfinder Road, Diamond Bar, CA 91765, USA
Manuel Eshaghof
Department of Mechanical Engineering, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona 3801 W Temple Avenue, Pomona, CA 91768, USA
Chris-Dominique N. Nsavu-Nzau
Department of Mechanical Engineering, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona 3801 W Temple Avenue, Pomona, CA 91768, USA
Yong X. Gan *
Department of Mechanical Engineering, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona 3801 W Temple Avenue, Pomona, CA 91768, USA
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The objective of this work is to develop a casting manufacturing process to produce a bismuth-based porous material. Induction heating was applied to melt Bi-Sn alloy in a quartz tube and the molten alloy was cast into loosely compacted sodium chloride powder. After the sodium chloride powder was dissolved by water, pores were generated in the Bi-Sn alloy. The true porosity of the alloy can be controlled as high as 58.7% in volume. The thermoelectric property of the material has been studied to explore the application of this material for energy conversion. The experimental results show that the Seebeck coefficient of the porous bismuth material is independent of porosity. The porosity of the material can be controlled through manufacturing parameters. The higher the porosity is, the slower the heat conduction in the material.
Keywords: Porous material, Bi-Sn alloy, casting, thermoelectricity, seebeck coefficient