Modeling temperature gradient evolution of CoSb3 material for thermoelectric devices during spark plasma sintering

Abstract

The temperature distribution and evolution of Mo/Ti/CoSb3 materials used as thermoelectric couples of devices during spark plasma sintering were simulated by finite element method, and the results agree well with the die interior temperature measured by thermocouple, The sample and punches have higher temperature in whole sintering process, the highest temperature region is existed in CoSb3 region, and the radial temperature gradient in CoSb3 region is obvious. It was confirmed by experiments that the temperature gradient in sample results in non-uniform microstructure and thermal conductivity difference. The temperature gradient increases with decreasing thermal conductivity and increasing electrical resistivity of CoSb3-based compound, from the point of view of the thermal conductivity and electrical resistivity, respectively, the optimization method of the combined mechanical property and thermoelectric property of CoSb3-based compound was proposed. ©2009 The Japan Institute of Metals.