Heat Absorbing Materials

[kowalskil]

Yes indeed. Instead of saving heat, in a "heat battery," I would save fuel (or electric energy) from which heat can be generated when needed.

.

P.S. Saving energy in gravitational form is a well known method (used near hydroelectric plants). Electric energy produced at nights is used to pump water to an uphill reservoir. That water is used to generate electricity during the days. This seems to be economically desirable, in many cases.

.

[LeoJenner]

I have a science project where we take a cardboard box and put everyday materials in and the one that is the hottest wins. What could I put in there to help heat it up.

[OMICSGroup]

In terms of latent heat and efficiency, water is the best way to absorb heat for a given mass. If the cost (of containing the water) is a great concern, solids such as stone, gravel, concrete, brick, or soil may be used but will generally have a lower efficiency absorbing and releasing the heat. Water is used in automobiles and buildings for the heat transfer system (usually mixed with an antifreeze).

 

If volume or weight is a great concern phase change materials such as paraffin wax have very high values of specific heat, but are expensive. They are used to line fire proof safes and airplane black boxes.

 

If the concern is absorbing solar energy, it depends on the temperature you are aiming for.

At lower temperatures (such as heating swimming pools or residential air), the absorption rating is more important than the emissivity. List of Chemistry Journals are available from various publishers regarding this topic. Please go through that.

 

At higher temperatures (hot water) you will want the surface of the absorber to have low emissivity. The best surface has a high aS/E ratio such as oxidized stainless steel, oxidized nickel, black chrome or various commercial selective surface coatings.

Edited June 6, 2012 by OMICS Group

[BrettNortje]

The more electron orbitals it has the quicker it absorbs heat, as, then they are 'activated.' heat comes from instability with these, and, a fire comes from a lot of unstable electrons trying to settle. they will continue to eat the exterior and insides of the stable thing, and leave behind stable stuff, like a fire on wood, for example.

 

Now, wood is lighter than metal, and has fewer electron orbitals. this means, theoretically, since hydrogen is so easily 'lit,' and gold takes so long to melt, that the lower down the periodic table you go, the harder it is to light something, and, the better conductor it is. think, now, is wood a good conductor? is tin foil a good conductor? or is gold and metals better conductors?