The Basics of Dilatometer

Theory and Data Analysis

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Contents
1 • What is dilatometry

2 • Thermal Expansion

• Experimental Setup

3 • Dilatometry Samples

4 • Applications

5 • Methodology

6 • Data Analysis
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Thermal Expansion & Thermal Expansion
Coefficient

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Thermal Expansion - Background
Background
Thermal Expansion
 Most materials undergo
dimensional changes during
heating or cooling.
 Generally, the dimensions of a
solid or liquid increase during
heating and decrease during
cooling.
 There are only few exceptions.
Sintering, Shrinkage
• During phase transitions or
during a sintering process,
substances can show a
shrinkage.
• During a sintering process,
such shrinkages steps are
irreversible and lead to a
permanent increase in density
and robustness.
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Thermal Expansion - Background

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 What is Dilatometry?
Dilatometry (DIL) is a technique in which a dimensional change of a
substance under negligible load is measured (e.g. expansion
measurement or shrinkage measurement) as a function of
temperature while the substance is subjected to a controlled
temperature program in a specified atmosphere.

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Equipment Setup

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Dilatometer Overview: -263℃ up to 2800℃

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Measuring System for DIL

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Sample Carrier

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Accessories for Dilatometry

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Furnace Program for DIL

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Dilatometry Samples

Metals & Alloys

Ceramics

Polymers

Green Bodies & Clay

Thin Films

Glasses

Solids , Powders, Liquids

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Dilatometry Technical Specification
 Sample length: 20 mm maximum  Sample holder: Fused silica
 Atmosphere: air, vacuum, Liquid nitrogen
 Maximum sample diameter: 7 mm  Temperature range: 100 – 1000°C
 Maximum change of length: 4 mm
 Maximum heating rate: 100°C/min
 Length resolution: 10 nm

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Applications

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Interpretation of Dilatometer Graph
Axis Labels 
Baseline

Co-efficient of Thermal Expansion dl/dT

Thermal Expansion DL/Lo

Expansion and Shrinkage

 Slope
T1
 Inflection Points
 Plateaus
T2
Peaks and Troughs
Transition Temperatures

Temperature C
Comparisons
 Data Analysis

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Thermal Expansion Coefficient of LaCrO3

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Determination of the Glass Transition

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Glass Transition of Polymer
Comparison TMA and DSC

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Glass — Thermal Expansion, Glass Transition,
Softening

Presented in the figure are three tests on the same type of glass but from different batches. It can clearly be seen
that the coefficients of thermal expansion are in good agreement within the instrument’s uncertainty boundaries.
The Glass Transition Temperature temperature and the softening point of sample #3 (blue curve) show slightly
lower values, indicating a slightly different composition.
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Ceramic Sintering

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Sintering of Clay

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Thin Film- Epoxy Film on Glass Substrate

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Phase Transition-Steel

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 Iron – Phase Transition

The sample was measured at a heating rate of 5 K/min in a helium atmosphere. At 906°C (peak temperature in the physical alpha)
a shrinkage step was detected. This is due to a change in the lattice structure (bcc -> fcc). Another change in the lattice structure
(fcc -> bcc) was detected at 1409°C. The deviation between the measured and literature transition temperatures is due to a small
impurity content. 28
Phase Transition-SiO2

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Phase Transition-SiO2

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Density Change – Powders & Melts

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Optimization of Casting Process

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 Density

Thermal behavior of an aluminum-based alloy, heating rate: 5 K/min, He atmosphere, alumina sample holder, alumina container.
Displayed are the Volumetric Expansion (black solid line), the curve of the calculated density change (red solid line) as well as
the c-DTA® curve (blue dashed line). 34
Conclusion
• What is dilatometry and what is it used to measure

• Basic setup of a dilatometer

• Analysis of data from the instrument

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Thank You..!

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