Production of calcium and magnesium titanates using concentrated solar energy

Abstract

Solar energy is an adequate technology for different processes in metallurgy, materials processing, recycling, or ceramic-refractory materials, because of the high temperatures attained which are reached when the solar radiation is concentrated. This growing interest has also emerged from the obtaining of such temperatures without releasing pollutants such as carbon dioxide, SO_x, NO_x, or dioxins. Other benefits associated with concentrated solar energy are that this energy source is virtually free and the possibility of operating in places isolated from the electrical grid. Therefore, this research proposes the integration of concentrated solar energy in the production of calcium and magnesium titanates, which are materials with increasing demand in the field of electric components. Experimental work was carried out in the Odeillo solar furnace located in Font-Romeu-Odeillo-Via (France) using a 1.5-meter parabolic concentrator and mixtures of CaO and TiO₂ and MgO and TiO₂ in 1:1 molar ratio. Mixtures were subjected to values of incident radiation exceeding 900 W/m² without using any special atmosphere and in very short times, which did not surpass 10 min. X-ray diffraction technique was employed to confirm the formation of the CaTiO₃ and MgTiO₃ perovskites. Therefore, concentrated solar energy might be a novel, fast, and environmentally sustainable manner of producing calcium and magnesium titanates.