Thermal Properties and Microstructure Evolution of the as‑cast and Annealed Al–Cu–Si Eutectic Alloy
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Date
2025
Authors
Manasijević, Dragan
Marković, Ivana
Cimpoesu, Nicanor
Chelariu, Romeu
Stamenković, Uroš
Balanović, Ljubiša
Gorgievski, Milan
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Springer Nature
Source
International Journal of Thermophysics
Volume
46
Issue
Abstract
The Al–28%Cu–6%Si (mass%) eutectic alloy represents a possible high-temperature phase change material (PCM) for latent heat thermal energy storage (LHTES). In this paper, its microstructural characteristics and thermal properties were examined in the as-cast and annealed conditions using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and light flash method. The microstructure of the studied alloy consists of (Al) solid solution phase, θ-Al2Cu intermetallic phase, and (Si) phase. The annealing at 450°C for 50 h led to significant changes in the morphology of the θ-Al2Cu and (Si) eutectic phases. The temperature dependences of thermal diffusivity and thermal conductivity were investigated within the temperature range from 25 to 400 °C. It was found that the thermal diffusivity and thermal conductivity of the annealed alloy are considerably higher than that of the as-cast alloy at temperatures lower than 300 °C. With increasing temperature, due to changes in the microstructure of the as-cast alloy, these differences decrease and finally diminish at 400 °C. The measured eutectic temperature is 522.3 °C and latent heat of melting is 358.3 Jg-1. The findings suggest that the Al–Cu–Si eutectic alloy shows good potential for use in phase change energy storage technologies.
Description
Keywords
Aluminum alloys, Eutectic, Latent heat, Phase change materials, Thermal conductivity
Citation
DOI
10.1007/s10765-025-03623-4
Scopus
ISSN
0195-928X
1572-9567
1572-9567
ISBN
License
ARR