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Coefficients Linear Thermal Expansion

Engineering Materials
Heat Transfer

Coefficient of Linear Thermal Expansion - Thermal expansion is the tendency of matter to change in volume in response to a change in temperature, through heat transfer.

When a substance is heated, its particles begin moving more and thus usually maintain a greater average separation. Materials which contract with increasing temperature are unusual; this effect is limited in size, and only occurs within limited temperature ranges (see examples below). The degree of expansion divided by the change in temperature is called the material's coefficient of thermal expansion and generally varies with temperature.

Coefficient of Linear Thermal Expansion	Thermal Expansion (microinch/(in °F))
Acetal	59.2
Acrylic, extruded	130.0
Acrylic, sheet, cast	45.0
Alumina	3.0
Aluminum	13.1
Antimony	5.0
Arsenic	2.6
Barium	11.4
Beryllium	6.7
Beryllium Copper	9.3
Bismuth	7.2
Brass	10.4
Brass, Admiralty	11.2
Brass, Yellow	11.3
Bronze	10.0
Bronze, Aluminum	9.0
Cadmium	16.8
Calcium	12.4
Carbon - diamond	0.67
Cellulose acetate (CA)	72.2
Cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB)	14.0
Cellulose nitrate (CN)	55.6
Cement	6.0
Cerium	2.9
Chlorinated polyvinylchloride (CPVC)	37.0
Chromium	3.3
Clay tile structure	3.3
Cobalt	6.7
Concrete	8.0
Concrete structure	5.5
Constantan	10.4
Copper	9.8
Copper, Beryllium 25	9.9
Corundum, sintered	3.6
Diamond	0.6
Dysprosium	5.5
Ebonite	42.8
Epoxy, castings resins & compounds, unfilled	31
Erbium	6.8
Ethylene ethyl acrylate (EEA)	113.9
Ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA)	100
Europium	19.4
Fluoroethylene propylene (FEP)	75.0
Gadolinium	5.0
Germanium	3.4
Glass, hard	3.3
Glass, plate	5.0
Glass, Pyrex	2.2
Gold	7.9
Granite	4.4
Graphite	4.4
Hafnium	3.3
Hard alloy K20	3.3
Hastelloy C	5.3
Holmium	6.2
Ice	28.3
Incoloy	8.0
Inconel	6.4
Indium	18.3
Invar	0.8
Iridium	3.3
Iron	6.8
Iron, cast	5.9
Iron, forged	6.3
Lanthanum	6.7
Lead	15.1
Limestone	4.4
Lithium	25.6
Lutetium	5.5
Magnesium	14.0
Manganese	12.0
Manganese Bronze	11.8
Marble	3.1 - 7.9
Masonry	2.6 - 5.0
Mica	1.7
Molybdenum	3.0
Monel	7.8
Mortar	4.1-7.5
Neodymium	5.3
Nickel	7.2
Nickel Wrought	7.4
Niobium (Columbium)	3.9
Nylon, general purpose	40
Nylon, Type 11	55.6
Nylon, Type 12	44.7
Nylon, Type 6, cast	47.2
Nylon, Type 6/6	44.4
Osmium	2.8
Palladium	6.6
Phenolic resin without fillers	44.4
Plaster	9.2
Platinum	5.0
Plutonium	19.84
Polyallomer	50.8
Polyamide (PA)	61.1
Polycarbonate - glass fiber-reinforced	12.0
Polycarbonate (PC)	39.0
Polyester	69.0
Polyester - glass fiber-reinforced	14.0
Polyethylene (PE)	111.0
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)	33.0
Polyphenylene - glass fiber-reinforced	20.0
Polypropylene - glass fiber-reinforced	18.0
Polypropylene (PP), unfilled	50.3
Polystyrene (PS)	38.9
Polysulfone (PSO)	31.0
Polyurethane (PUR), rigid	32
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)	28
Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)	71
Porcelain	2
Potassium	46
Praseodymium	3.7
Promethium	6.1
Quartz	0.43 - 0.79
Red Brass	10.4
Rhenium	3.7
Rhodium	4.4
Rubber, hard	42.8
Ruthenium	5.1
Samarium	7.1
Sandstone	6.5
Scandium	5.7
Selenium	2.1
Silicon	2.8
Silver	11
Slate	5.8
Sodium	39
Solder 50 - 50	13.4
Steatite	4.7
Steel	7.3
Steel Stainless Austenitic (304)	9.6
Steel Stainless Austenitic (310)	8.0
Steel Stainless Austenitic (316)	8.9
Steel Stainless Ferritic (410)	5.5
Strontium	12.5
Tantalum	3.6
Tellurium	20.5
Terbium	5.7
Terne	6.5
Thallium	16.6
Thorium	6.7
Thulium	7.4
Tin	12.8
Titanium	4.8
Tungsten	2.5
Uranium	7.4
Vanadium	4.4
Vinyl Ester	8.7 - 12
Wood, fir	2.1
Wood, oak	3.0
Wood, pine	2.8
Ytterbium	14.6
Yttrium	5.9
Zinc	19.0
Zirconium	3.2

Material	Linear coefficient α at 20 °C (10−6 K−1)	Volumetric coefficient αV at 20 °C (10−6 K−1)
Aluminium	23.1	69
Aluminium nitride	5.3	4.2
Benzocyclobutene	42	126
Brass	19	57
Carbon steel	10.8	32.4
Concrete	12	36
Copper	17	51
Diamond	1	3
Ethanol	250	750
Gallium(III) arsenide	5.8	17.4
Gasoline	317	950
Glass	8.5	25.5
Gold	14	42
Indium phosphide	4.6	13.8
Invar	1.2	3.6
Iron	11.8	33.3
Kapton	20	60
Lead	29	87
Macor	9.3
Magnesium	26	78
Mercury	61	182
Molybdenum	4.8	14.4
Nickel	13	39
Oak	54
Douglas-fir	45	75
Platinum	9	27
PVC	52	156
Quartz	0.33	1
Sapphire	5.3
Silicon Carbide	2.77	8.31
Silicon	3	9
Silver	18	54
Stainless steel	17.3	51.9
Steel	11.0 ~ 13.0	33.0 ~ 39.0
Titanium	8.6
Tungsten	4.5	13.5
Water	69	207
Zerodur	≈0.02

Sources

Heat Transfer - A Practical Source, Yunus A. Cenel
Heat Transfer Handbook, Adrian Bejan, Allen Kraus
Heat Transfer Calculations, Myer Kutz

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