Abstract
Efficient energy storage is one of the biggest problems facing alternative energy technologies. In whatever form the energy is stored, an alternative energy system usually requires a storage buffer between carrying energy input and the varying energy demand regime at the output end of the system. A method of energy storage is the use of the latent heat from Phase Change Materials (PCMs), for example salt hydrates. In this paper we tested the corrosion resistance of five commercial metals (aluminum, brass, copper, steel and stainless steel) in contact with two salt hydrates, commonly used as PCM, with a melting temperature in the range of 48 to 58°C (sodium acetate trihydrate and sodium thiosulfate pentahydrate) in experiments with a duration up to 70 days. The results demonstrated that brass and copper should be avoided when sodium acetate trihydrate is used in long term applications, but aluminum, steel and stainless steel can be used without problem. When the salt hydrate used is sodium thiosulfate pentahydrate, brass and copper should not be used in any case, aluminum and stainless steel can be used, and steel in contact with graphite should be monitored because corrosion could appear after some time of use.