Dilatometer

For the accurate measurement of longitudinal expansion and shrinkage of metallic and ceramic materials, ECN has the disposal of a new and modern Dilatometer (Netzsch, DIL402 C/4/G). The dilatometer is used, among other things, for:

• determination of sinter behaviour of powder metallurgical materials,
• determination of phase conversions which go together with volume changes,
• determination of temperature dependant distortions and tensions in materials.

The longitudinal expansion and shrinkage can be measured with an accuracy of approximately 1.25 nm over a measure lenght of 25 mm. The measurements are possible in a temperature range between 20-1650ºC under air, helium, nitrogen and forminggas. With the additional software, Rate Controlled Sintering (RCS), the most optimal sinterprocedure can be determined on the basis of a dilatometer-measurement for ceramic materials.