Journal of Advanced Materials in Engineering

Journal of Advanced Materials in Engineering

Synthesis and Characterization of Sintered Glass-Ceramics from Industrial Wastes for Thermal Energy Storage Systems of Concentrated Solar Power Plants

Document Type : Original Article

Author
Majid Bagheri
Department of Metals, Institute of Science and High Technology and Environmental Sciences, Graduate University of Advanced Technology, Kerman, Iran
10.47176/jame.45.4.1191
Abstract
Introduction and Objectives: This study investigated the feasibility of using industrial wastes to produce glass-ceramics suitable for thermal energy storage in concentrated solar power plants. The objective was to produce glass-ceramics from three types of industrial wastes and evaluate their corrosion resistance against molten carbonate salts as the heat transfer medium at high temperatures.
Materials and Methods: For this purpose, three raw materials including blast furnace slag, ladle furnace slag, and artificial stone waste were used. The samples were sintered using a single-step method. Phase identification was performed by X-ray diffraction, and microstructure examination was conducted using scanning electron microscopy. Physical properties including density, water absorption, and Vickers hardness were measured, and specific heat capacity was determined by differential scanning calorimetry. Additionally, the samples were exposed to molten carbonate salt at 800°C for one week to evaluate their corrosion resistance.
Results: The sample derived from ladle furnace slag, with its dense structure, exhibited the highest hardness (7.9 GPa) and the lowest water absorption (0.028%). The sample derived from blast furnace slag showed the highest specific heat capacity (~ 0.8 J/g·°C). The corrosion test also indicated excellent resistance of the ladle furnace slag-derived sample, with the lowest penetration depth and surface degradation against the molten salt.
Conclusion: The glass-ceramic produced from ladle furnace slag, possessing a favourable combination of mechanical properties, physical characteristics, and corrosion resistance, is considered as a suitable and economical option in thermal energy storage systems in contact with molten carbonates.
Keywords
Glass-ceramic
Concentrated solar power
Thermal energy storage
Sintering
Corrosion
Subjects
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Journal of Advanced Materials in Engineering
Volume 45, Issue 4
Autumn 2026
Pages 117-131

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