Patent GB-952679-A (GB)
Title: Thermoelectric members and process for producing the same
IPC: H01L35/32
Filed: 1961-12-19
Abstract: 952,679. Thermo-electric devices. WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CORPORATION. Dec. 19, 1961 [Jan. 5, 1961], No. 45541/61. Heading H1K. [Also in Division B3] Thermo-electric members are produced by extruding a billet comprising layers of metal and thermo-electric material. As shown in Fig. 1 a billet comprises inner and outer metal cylinders 5 and 6 between which thermo-electric material 8 is placed. The material 8 may be cast or moulded in the billet or may be compressed or loose powder or flakes. A nose plug 7 is welded between the cylinders at one end and a cap 10 is used to seal off the other end. The material 8 is degassed through a vent 12 in the cap 10 by raising the billet to from 315  C. to 538 C. in an evacuated space for about 16 to 24 hours in the specific case of the material being lead telluride. The vent 12 is then sealed and the billet is extruded with a reduction factor of between 2: 1 and 60: 1 and at a temperature that does not reach within 38 C. of the melting-point of that component of the billet having the lowest melting-point. The extruded rod is cut into lengths which may be machined, as shown in Fig. 4, to provide convenient projections of the metal to which connections are made. Extrusion is said to provide good mechanical and electrical contact between the electrodes and the thermo-electric material, but it is stated that with a reduction factor as low as 2: 1 a wetting material is necessary on the cylinder walls. As shown in Fig. 10 the billet may be constructed with inner cylindrical dividing walls so that a multilayered core is produced, the materials being chosen for each layer so as to give maximum efficiency at the thermal gradient to be experienced by that layer. As shown in Fig. 8 the billet may contain rectangular cavities 66 for thermo-electric material and be extruded to form the flat multi-layered strip from which the edges 73 are removed, as shown in Fig. 9. Elliptical or hexagonal shapes may also be extruded. To resist corrosion the inner or outer cylindrical member of the cylindrically extruded embodiments may be a laminated structure with outer walls of stainless steel, zirconium, or zirconium alloy, and an inner layer of copper or copper alloy to retain good conductivity. The inner cylindrical member may be solid and be drilled hollow after extrusion. Cooling or heating fluid may be circulated through the inner member. Consideration is given to the extrusion constant of lead telluride, copper, and aluminium in the design of billets for extruded elements of required dimensions and examples are given of aluminium or copper clad lead telluride and germanium bismuth telluride billets. Examples are also given of iron clad and zirconium alloy clad lead telluride billets. Where multi-layer billets are concerned the partitions may be of iron, cobalt, chromium, molybdenum, silicon, zirconium, titanium, or surface coatings of these materials to prevent reaction or diffusion of components. Other thermo-electric materials referred to are bismuth antimony telluride, zinc antimonide, germanium bismuth telluride, germanium telluride, bismuth tellurium selenide, and indium arsenic phosphide. The lead telluride may be cast or be pressed and sintered. Specifications 947,825 and 952,678 are referred to.