Anthony Joseph Rawson¹, Tina Gläsel¹, Benedikt Nowak¹, David Boon¹, Veronika Stahl², Florian Kargl¹; ¹Institute of Material Physics in Space, German Aerospace Centre (DLR), ²Institute of Vehicle Concepts, German Aerospace Centre (DLR)

Metals can provide an energy dense, high conductivity solution to the problem of storing heat latently in electric vehicles for space heating. However, many molten metals will react with container materials (e.g. stainless steel) when held for long periods at high temperatures. In this work, a computational and experimental method are introduced and results presented for the compatibility of the eutectic alloy Al-12.7 wt.% Si with a number of potential container materials. Several promising new container materials are identified from a survey of two CALPHAD databases. Sodium silicide and vanadium silicide were identified as compatible at equilibrium and both viable options as they have been applied as coatings on steel in past work. Experimental results for static pellet compatibility tests for periods of up to two weeks are given for several other materials and are shown to conform to literature and computational predictions. Recent developments in experimental apparatus for simulation of thermal storage materials undergoing erosive-corrosive wear are briefly discussed, providing an outlook for future research at the German Aerospace Centre (DLR).