Analysis of the heat transfer and anti-corrosion performance of an aluminum nitride porous ceramic skeleton with controllable preparation

Porous skeletons play a positive role in improving the heat storage and release rate of molten salt phase change materials, making their development a research hot spot. However, the current simple structure of the porous skeletons limits their application in complex heat storage devices. In this study, the aluminum nitride porous ceramic skeleton, prepared by the photocuring additive manufacturing technology, was shown to improve the heat transfer performance of a solar salt. The solar salt/aluminum nitride porous ceramic skeleton composite phase change materials were prepared and their heat storage rate was investigated. The composite phase change materials could reduce the heat storage time by up to 33.05 % compared to the pure solar salt; the maximum temperature difference decreased by up to 22.1 C. Even after 180 heat cycles, the aluminum nitride porous ceramic skeletons exhibited excellent anti-corrosion against the solar salt and maintained their original phase, functional groups, and elements, with no new compound formation. This study is of great significance to improve the heat storage performance of complex heat storage devices and provides a foundation for the application of ceramic additive manufacturing in the field of energy storage and heat transfer.