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Thermal expansion coefficient

The measure of how strongly a material expands with temperature change — decisive for welding distortion.

The thermal expansion coefficient states how strongly a material expands per degree of temperature change. Austenitic stainless steels expand almost twice as much as ferritic structural steel — which is why they distort far more during welding. The value also explains why materials with different expansion should not be welded together carelessly: the differing shrinkage creates stresses and cracks.

VerzugEdelstahlPhysik

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