Improvement of Thermal Energy Storage Performance in Al-Al2O3 Composites through Additions of Copper: Evaluation of Microstructure and Thermal Properties

Authors

Muhammad Hasan Basri, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tadulako University, Soekarno Hatta Street, Palu, 94119, IndonesiaFollow
Ramang Magga, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tadulako University, Soekarno Hatta Street, Palu, 94119, IndonesiaFollow
Muhammad Syaiful Fadly, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tadulako University, Soekarno Hatta Street, Palu, 94119, IndonesiaFollow
Zikri Arifansyah Djaba, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tadulako University, Soekarno Hatta Street, Palu, 94119, IndonesiaFollow
Muhammad Iqbal Ibrahim, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tadulako University, Soekarno Hatta Street, Palu, 94119, IndonesiaFollow
Hidayat Hidayat, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tadulako University, Soekarno Hatta Street, Palu, 94119, IndonesiaFollow
Yandi Yandi, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tadulako University, Soekarno Hatta Street, Palu, 94119, IndonesiaFollow

Abstract

The study aims to evaluate the influence of adding copper aluminum–alumina composite (Al–Al₂O₃) against characteristic thermal properties through metallurgical powder. Three variations of the composition of weight copper were used, namely 5%, 10%, and 15%, with aluminum as the matrix and alumina as the reinforcement. Thermal test covering analysis of thermal conductivity, specific heat, and microstructure characterization using SEM-EDX. The results show that adding Cu increases thermal conductivity significantly, with the highest mark achieved in the 15% Cu composite (6.47 W/m.°C). However, the increase in Cu content above 10% causes the agglomeration of particles and enhancements in porosity, which harms thermal stability. Composite with 10% Cu (C2) shows the most balanced thermal, with uniform temperature distribution and specific heat capacity of 2.8 J/g.°C. The DSC results also show that C3 has the highest rate of heat flow, but thermal stability is lower than C2. Appropriately, the addition of copper allows the formation of an efficient thermal network through a percolation mechanism, increasing the effectiveness of storage and heat release. This result shows that Al–Al₂O₃ composite with Cu content of 10–12% has the potential as a storage material for thermal energy applications in solar water heating systems. The enhanced thermal characteristics of the Al–Al₂O₃–Cu composite indicate its suitability for use in solar thermal energy storage systems operating at moderate temperatures, where effective heat retention and release are crucial.

Recommended Citation

Basri, Muhammad Hasan; Magga, Ramang; Fadly, Muhammad Syaiful; Djaba, Zikri Arifansyah; Ibrahim, Muhammad Iqbal; Hidayat, Hidayat; and Yandi, Yandi (2025) "Improvement of Thermal Energy Storage Performance in Al-Al2O3 Composites through Additions of Copper: Evaluation of Microstructure and Thermal Properties," Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST): Vol. 9: No. 2, Article 3.
Available at: https://citeus.um.ac.id/jmest/vol9/iss2/3