| Abstract Scope |
Thermal conductivity is a key parameter for refractories used in thermal energy storage (TES), where efficient heat transfer is essential. Due to their relatively low thermal conductivity, alumina and silica based refractories are suitable for this application. At the same time, their low price and wide availability is another coincidence in this case.
This work presents a comparative study of thermal conductivity across the full SiO₂–Al₂O₃ system. Room temperature measurements were performed using the modified transient plane source (MTPS) technique on two devices: ISOMET 2114 (Applied Precision, Slovakia), TRIDENT (C-Therm, Canada). To evaluate the temperature dependence, thermal diffusivity was measured via the laser flash method (LFA 1000, Linseis, Germany), transformed into thermal conductivity values subsequently calculated using temperature-dependent density and specific heat.
The results provide clearer understanding of how composition and temperature influence thermal transport, offering guidance for selecting and optimizing refractory ceramics for TES and other high-temperature applications. |