The microstructures and properties of Fe2O3 and TiO2 co-doped corundum ceramics for solar thermal absorbing materials

Solar thermal absorbing materials are the key components of concentrating solar power. In this study, Fe2O3 and TiO2 co-doped corundum ceramics were prepared by pressureless sintering. The effects of different Fe2O3/TiO2 ratios on the phase composition, microstructure, thermal shock resistance and solar absorptance were investigated via XRD and EPMA testing. The results showed that, with the decrease of Fe2O3/TiO2 ratio, the appropriate amount of FeAlTiO5 would decompose into ferrite particles, which played a bridging role between the corundum grains making the samples have excellent thermal shock resistance. A6 (90% bauxite, 9.5% Fe2O3 and 0.5% TiO2) sintered at 1460 °C had the optimum comprehensive properties, with a bending strength of 154.80 MPa and an absorptance of 89.20% in the spectral range from 0.3 to 2.5 μm. After 30 thermal shock cycles (1000 °C–25 °C, air-cooled), the bending strength of A6 was 222.05 MPa, and the absorptance was 90.40%, which were 43.44% and 1.35% higher than those before thermal shock, respectively. Therefore, it was suitable as an excellent solar thermal absorbing materials.