Dilatometry

What Is Dilatometry?

Dilatometry measures the change in length or volume of a material when it is subjected to a defined temperature program. As materials are heated or cooled, they may expand, contract, densify, or undergo phase changes. Dilatometry captures these changes with high sensitivity and repeatability.

This technique provides direct insight into how materials behave during:

thermal cycling
heat treatment
sintering and densification
phase transformation processes

What Dilatometry Measures

Dilatometry can be used to obtain:

Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (CTE)
Dimensional change vs. temperature curves
Onset and completion temperatures of phase transformations
Sintering shrinkage and densification behavior
Thermal stability and irreversible dimensional changes

These parameters are essential for predicting material behavior in real service environments.

Why Thermal Expansion Matters

Uncontrolled thermal expansion or contraction can lead to:

cracking, warping, or distortion
loss of dimensional tolerance
delamination or interfacial stress in multilayer systems
premature failure during thermal cycling

Dilatometry helps you:

select compatible materials for assemblies
optimize heat-treatment and sintering profiles
validate material specifications
reduce thermal stress–related failures

Typical Application Scenarios

Ceramics & Sintered Materials

Evaluate sintering temperature and shrinkage behavior
Optimize firing profiles for density and dimensional control
Compare batches or formulations

Metals & Alloys

Measure CTE for design and material selection
Study phase transformations during heating and cooling
Support heat-treatment process development

Polymers & Composites

Evaluate dimensional stability under thermal load
Detect softening, relaxation, or irreversible deformation
Compare reinforced vs. unreinforced systems

Multilayer & Assembled Systems

Assess thermal expansion mismatch
Reduce stress at interfaces and joints
Support reliability testing under thermal cycling

Failure Analysis

Identify dimensional instability linked to cracking or distortion
Compare “good vs. failed” materials
Correlate thermal behavior with service conditions

Sample Types

Dilatometry is commonly applied to:

ceramics and powders (green bodies or sintered parts)
metals and alloys
polymers and composites
molded or machined components

Xinbodi selects sample geometry, load conditions, and temperature programs based on material type and analytical objectives.

What You Will Receive

Each dilatometry project is delivered with a clear, structured report designed for engineering and R&D decisions. A typical deliverable includes:

test objective and sample description
temperature program and test conditions
dimensional change vs. temperature curves
calculated CTE values over defined temperature ranges
identification of phase transformation or sintering events
comparison between samples or processing conditions
interpretation linked to performance and design implications
recommendations for process optimization or follow-up testing

Why Choose Xinbodi for Dilatometry?

Experience with a wide range of material systems
Application-focused test design aligned with real service conditions
Reliable, repeatable thermal measurement practices
Clear interpretation connecting thermal behavior to material performance
Support for R&D, production, and failure investigations
Confidential handling of proprietary materials and data