The Influence of Heating-Cooling Cycles on the Thermal Storage Performances of Al-17 Wt.% Si Alloy

The change of thermal properties of Al-17 wt.% Si alloys in different heating-cooling cycles was studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The influence of heating-cooling cycles on the latent heat of melting was discussed in the view of microstructure of Al-Si alloy. The results showed the latent heat of as-cast Al–13 wt%Si alloy is 548.6 J/g, which Al-Si alloy possesses good thermal energy storage property. The onset of melting point of Al-Si alloy increases indistinctively and is about 577 °C. When the heating-cooling cycle was 1200 times, the latent heat increased to 526.0 J/g. With heating-cooling times increase, the grain size and shape of the primary Si decrease. The shape of eutectic Si is changed into stripe