Sialon-based Composites for Solar Receivers: An overview

Abstract

Engineering non-oxide ceramics have recently been implied in many advanced applications based on their high temperature capability, outstanding strength, and low fabrication cost. As solar energy has become an economic trend and a clean source of energy; the utilization of ceramic materials as solar receivers in a solar thermal system has been widely considered. Various ceramic materials have shown their ability as heat absorber material due to their oxidation resistance, bending strength, thermal conductivity, and solar absorptance. Ceramics as Si3N4 and SiC can be valuable solar receiver materials; however, due to the high sintering temperature required for Si3N4 and the non-oxidizing nature of SiC; modification of these ceramics with AIN, oxide materials, and other additives is required. One of the highly promising trials that have proved its ability in a solar thermal system is modifying Si3N4 with Al2O3 and AIN that typically results in developing sialon-based ceramics. The latter materials have modified the flaws in many solar receiver ceramics as they have lower sinterability, lower fabrication cost, and easier densification compared to other solar receiver materials. The present work is an overview of the ceramic materials and composites applied as solar receivers, in addition to the characteristics required for the selected material "sialons" and the previous work achieved in this field. OriginalityThis review article could be a guide for scientists and engineers concerned with developing higher efficiency of the solar thermal system by utilizing ceramic materials as solar receivers. It produces a quick and comprehensive view of the characteristics and properties required to select a ceramic material with high efficiency, and present the previous works implied at this point with further explanation of their data. Such an overview can be a starting database for developing a solar receiver ceramic material that avoids the flaws in the previous researches which can be a forward step in the renewable energy field.