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Thermomechanical Characterization of Bismuth Telluride Based Thermoelectric Materials

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 March 2011

Witold Brostow
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Advanced Polymers & Optimised Materials (LAPOM), Department of Materials Science, University of North Texas, P.O. Box 305310, Denton, TX 76203-5310
Kevin P. Menard
Affiliation:
PerkinElmer Instruments, 710 Bridgeport Ave, MS F71, Shelton, CT 06484-4796
John B. White
Affiliation:
Marlow Industries, Inc., 10451 Vista Park Road, Dallas, TX 75238-3334
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Abstract

The thermoelectric properties of bismuth telluride based thermoelectric (TE) materials are well-characterized, but comparatively little has been published on the mechanical and thermomechanical properties of these materials. In this paper, we present the initial dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) data for n-type and p-type bismuth telluride based TE materials. The materials' tan δ values, indicative of viscoelastic energy dissipation modes, approach that of glassy or crystalline polymers and are greater than ten times the tan delta of structural metals. TE samples measured perpendicular to the van der Waals planes have higher tan δ values. Thermal scans in the DMA compressive mode showed changes in mechanical properties versus temperature with clear hysteresis effects. These changes were correlated to differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) thermal transitions. The expected anisotropy was shown in flexural 3-point bending results for one n-type material that showed a storage modulus of 0.10 to 0.45 GPa in the direction parallel to the van der Waals planes and 0.07 to 0.2 GPa in the perpendicular direction.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2002

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References

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