Piping Materials - Temperature Expansion Coefficients
Expansion coefficients that can be used to calculate temperature expansion of pipes and tubes - are indicated in the table below:
| Material | Expansion Coefficients | |
|---|---|---|
| 10-6 in/in oF | 10-6 m/m oC | |
| Aluminum | 12.8 | 23.1 |
| Carbon Steel | 6.5 | 11.7 |
| Cast Iron | 5.9 | 10.6 |
| Copper | 9.3 | 16.8 |
| Stainless Steel | 9.9 | 17.8 |
| ABS Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene | 35.0 | 63.0 |
| HDPE High density polyethylene | 67.0 | 120.0 |
| PE Polyethylene | 83.0 | 150.0 |
| CPVC Chlorinated polyvinyl chloride | 44.0 | 79.0 |
| PVC Polyvinyl chloride | 28.0 | 50.4 |
- in/in oF = 1200 in/100ft oF = 1.8 m/m oC
Note! The higher expansion coefficients for plastic materials makes plastic pipes and tubes extremely sensitive to temperature changes. Always pay attention to plastic pipes and tubes when temperature varies.
Example - Thermal Expansion of a PVC Pipe
A PVC pipe with length 6 m is heated from 0oC to 60oC.
Expansion of the pipe can be calculated as
dl = (50.4 10-6 m/m oC) (6 m) ((60oC) - (0oC))
= 0.018 m
= 1.8 cm
Related Topics
• Piping Systems
Calculate dimensions of pipes and tubes. Pressure drop calculations and head loss charts. Use of different piping materials. Insulation of pipes and tubes and heat loss diagrams.
• Temperature Expansion
Thermal expansion and expansion coefficients. Expansion pipes and tubes made of stainless steel, carbon steel, copper, plastics and more.
• Thermodynamics
Work, heat and energy systems.
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