Feasibility of Cold Spray for the Application of Thermoelectric Materials

MAJ Matthew LaVallee, USMC

Thermoelectric generators convert heat energy into electricity and present a low-maintenance option for improving the efficiency of internal combustion engines. Magnesium silicide is a promising material for waste heat capture due to its light weight, low cost, abundance, thermoelectric efficiency, and low toxicity. The cold spray process is a means of using a high velocity gas jet to deposit high quality films without chemical changes to the precursor powders.