Date of Award
5-2010
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.S.
Degree Program
Engineering
Department
Mechanical Engineering
Major Professor
Schilling, Paul
Second Advisor
Herrington, Paul
Third Advisor
Verges, Melody
Abstract
Thermoelectric (TE) ZrNiSn samples with a half-Heusler atomic structure were synthesized by mechanical alloying (MA) and consolidation by either Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) or hot pressing (HP). X-Ray diffraction patterns of as milled powders and consolidated samples were compared and analyzed for phase purity. Thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient are measured as a function of temperature in the range 300 K to 800 K and compared with measurements reported for high temperature solid state reaction synthesis of this compound. HP samples, compared to SPS samples, demonstrate increased grain growth due to longer heating times. Reduced grain size achieved by MA and SPS causes increased phonon scattering due to the increased number of grain boundaries, which lowers the thermal conductivity without doping the base system with addition phonon scattering centers. Mechanical characterization of the samples by microindentation and depth sensing indentation for hardness and elastic modulus will be discussed.
Recommended Citation
Germond, Jeffrey, "Structural Characterization and Thermoelectric Performance of ZrNiSn Half-Heusler Compound Synthesized by Mechanical Alloying" (2010). University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations. 1197.
https://scholarworks.uno.edu/td/1197
Rights
The University of New Orleans and its agents retain the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible this dissertation or thesis in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. The author retains all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis or dissertation.