High-temperature reaction of sodium vapour with quartz glass

¹ University of Žilina, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Power Engineering, Univerzitná 8215/1, 01026 Žilina, Slovakia
² Research Centre of the University of Žilina, Univerzitná 8215/1, 01026 Žilina, Slovakia
³ University of Žilina, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Material Engineering, Univerzitná 8215/1, 01026 Žilina, Slovakia
⁴ Research Centre Řež, Hlavní 130, 250 68 Husinec, Czech Republic

^* Corresponding author: radovan.nosek@fstroj.uniza.sk

Abstract

Heat pipes are one of the most efficient ways to transfer thermal energy hundred times more efficiently than copper. In this work, we present the investigation of sodium terminal velocity inside a glass pulsating heat pipe. Velocity measurements were conducted under operating conditions within the range of 500 – 1 100 °C. Since sodium is generally able to etch glass and ceramic materials, its presence resulted in glass reduction and sodium oxidation. From the XPS analysis of specimens extracted from a glass pipe after sodium explosion, it can be concluded that the reaction products are sodium oxide Na₂O and a thin layer of carbon, which is localized on the SiO₂ glass. The character of damage induced by chemical reactions is analysed in this manuscript.