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How to Use the Coefficient of Thermal Expansion

Understanding Thermal Expansion and How to Calculate Dimensional Change

The coefficient of thermal expansion describes how the dimensions of a material change in response to temperature variation. For copper-based alloys, heating causes the material to expand, that is, its length increases. The change in length can be calculated using the following formula:

ΔL = α × L₀ × ΔT

Where:

  • α = coefficient of thermal expansion
  • L₀ = initial length
  • ΔT = temperature variation

As an example, AMPCOLOY® 940 has a coefficient of thermal expansion of 17.5 × 10⁻⁶ /K. This value can be used to calculate the dimensional change of an AMPCOLOY® 940 component when heated to 200°C, 300°C, or any other operating temperature, using the formula above.