Application of the new process combining casting, joining and sintering for low-cost environment-conscious thermoelectric modules

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21H01679
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 26060:Metals production and resources production-related
• Research Institution: Akita University
• Principal Investigator: GOTO Ikuzo 秋田大学, 理工学研究科, 准教授 (10632812)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 肖 英紀 秋田大学, 理工学研究科, 准教授 (10719678)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 鋳造 / 接合 / 焼結 / 純金属 / 酸化物

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In our past study, joining between pure aluminum and barium titanate could be obtained by the formation of the interfacial alumina layer. This result indicated the possibility of a new process that simultaneously performs the casting joining in shorter times by promoting oxidation at higher temperatures and the sintering of barium titanate. In this study, the low-cost manufacturing technique of environment-conscious thermoelectric conversion modules combining the casting of the heat collecting sections, sintering of oxide thermoelectric materials, and joining between them was investigated by applying the new process to the thermoelectric materials and/or pure copper for high-temperature ranges. This study clarified the sintering behavior of the oxide thermoelectric materials and the joining behavior between them and pure aluminum or pure copper and suggests the feasibility of the new process.

Free Research Field

鋳造工学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究の目的は，研究代表者らが確立した鋳造・接合・焼結を同時に行う新プロセスを応用展開することで，未利用熱活用のための環境調和型熱電変換モジュールの低コストな新規製造法を実現することである．酸化物熱電材料は高温下でも比較的安定なものが多いことから，高融点かつ熱伝導性に優れる純銅製の集熱部との接合により，幅広い温度域における未利用熱活用が可能なモジュールの実現が期待できる．また，本研究を通じた熱電変換モジュールのトータルコストの大幅な低減により，実用化・普及の促進に伴う未利用エネルギーの高効率な活用の最も迅速な実現が期待できる．