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Thermal Expansion Reference

Coefficient of Thermal Expansion

Compare the mean coefficient of linear thermal expansion across piping materials to estimate thermal growth for expansion loops, cold spring and flexibility analysis.

Thermal growth & stress estimator

Calculate free axial expansion ΔL = α × ΔT × L and restrained stress σ = E × α × ΔT.

ASME B31.3 App C & L

Thermal expansion (ΔL)

+210.6 mm

Restrained Stress (σ)427.5 MPa
ΔT: +180°C•L: 100 m

Material expansion coefficients & mechanical properties

Showing 30 materials

Carbon steel (A53 / A106 / A105)

Carbon & low-alloy steel

11.7

×10⁻⁶/°C

Elasticity (E)203 GPa
e @ 100°C0.94 mm/m
Max Temp425°C

Most common piping material; ≈ 6.5 ×10⁻⁶/°F, E ≈ 29.5 Mpsi.

Carbon-molybdenum (C-½Mo)

Carbon & low-alloy steel

12.0

×10⁻⁶/°C

Elasticity (E)200 GPa
e @ 100°C0.96 mm/m
Max Temp468°C

Elevated-temperature carbon steel for steam lines.

1¼Cr-½Mo low alloy (P11)

Carbon & low-alloy steel

12.3

×10⁻⁶/°C

Elasticity (E)200 GPa
e @ 100°C0.98 mm/m
Max Temp593°C

Common refinery & power plant high-temperature alloy.

2¼Cr-1Mo low alloy (P22)

Carbon & low-alloy steel

12.5

×10⁻⁶/°C

Elasticity (E)198 GPa
e @ 100°C1.00 mm/m
Max Temp600°C

High-pressure steam and hydrogen service.

5Cr-½Mo (P5)

Carbon & low-alloy steel

11.0

×10⁻⁶/°C

Elasticity (E)205 GPa
e @ 100°C0.88 mm/m
Max Temp650°C

Intermediate chrome alloy for refinery heater tubes.

9Cr-1Mo (P9)

Carbon & low-alloy steel

11.0

×10⁻⁶/°C

Elasticity (E)205 GPa
e @ 100°C0.88 mm/m
Max Temp650°C

High-temperature refinery process lines.

9Cr-1Mo-V High-temp Alloy (P91)

Carbon & low-alloy steel

10.9

×10⁻⁶/°C

Elasticity (E)210 GPa
e @ 100°C0.87 mm/m
Max Temp650°C

Advanced creep-strength enhanced ferritic steel for supercritical power.

12–13Cr martensitic (SS 410)

Stainless steel

10.4

×10⁻⁶/°C

Elasticity (E)200 GPa
e @ 100°C0.83 mm/m
Max Temp650°C

Martensitic stainless; lower thermal growth than austenitic.

Austenitic SS (304 / 316 / 321)

Stainless steel

16.5

×10⁻⁶/°C

Elasticity (E)193 GPa
e @ 100°C1.32 mm/m
Max Temp815°C

High expansion — allow generously for thermal growth; E ≈ 28.0 Mpsi.

Austenitic SS High-Temp (SS 310S)

Stainless steel

15.9

×10⁻⁶/°C

Elasticity (E)190 GPa
e @ 100°C1.27 mm/m
Max Temp1035°C

Severe high-temperature furnace and combustion piping.

Duplex SS (2205 / UNS S31803)

Stainless steel

13.0

×10⁻⁶/°C

Elasticity (E)200 GPa
e @ 100°C1.04 mm/m
Max Temp300°C

Lower thermal growth than 316L with double yield strength.

Super Duplex SS (2507 / UNS S32750)

Stainless steel

13.0

×10⁻⁶/°C

Elasticity (E)200 GPa
e @ 100°C1.04 mm/m
Max Temp300°C

High PREN ≥ 42 for severe marine & offshore environments.

Alloy 400 (Monel 400)

Nickel alloy

14.0

×10⁻⁶/°C

Elasticity (E)179 GPa
e @ 100°C1.12 mm/m
Max Temp538°C

Ni-Cu alloy for hydrofluoric acid & marine service.

Alloy 600 (Inconel 600)

Nickel alloy

13.3

×10⁻⁶/°C

Elasticity (E)214 GPa
e @ 100°C1.06 mm/m
Max Temp1093°C

High-nickel alloy for extreme high-temperature furnace lines.

Alloy 800 / 800H / 800HT

Nickel alloy

14.4

×10⁻⁶/°C

Elasticity (E)196 GPa
e @ 100°C1.15 mm/m
Max Temp982°C

High-temperature Ni-Fe-Cr alloy for petrochem reformers.

Hastelloy C-276 (UNS N10276)

Nickel alloy

11.2

×10⁻⁶/°C

Elasticity (E)205 GPa
e @ 100°C0.90 mm/m
Max Temp1038°C

Ni-Cr-Mo alloy with supreme chemical corrosion resistance.

Nickel 200 / 201

Nickel alloy

13.3

×10⁻⁶/°C

Elasticity (E)207 GPa
e @ 100°C1.06 mm/m
Max Temp600°C

Commercially pure nickel for caustic soda service.

Titanium Grade 2 (CP Titanium)

Non-ferrous metal

8.6

×10⁻⁶/°C

Elasticity (E)105 GPa
e @ 100°C0.69 mm/m
Max Temp316°C

Low thermal expansion, light weight, excellent seawater resistance.

Pure Copper (C12200)

Non-ferrous metal

17.0

×10⁻⁶/°C

Elasticity (E)117 GPa
e @ 100°C1.36 mm/m
Max Temp204°C

Domestic water and refrigeration lines.

Copper-nickel 90/10 (C70600)

Non-ferrous metal

17.1

×10⁻⁶/°C

Elasticity (E)135 GPa
e @ 100°C1.37 mm/m
Max Temp300°C

Seawater piping and offshore cooling systems.

Copper-nickel 70/30 (C71500)

Non-ferrous metal

16.2

×10⁻⁶/°C

Elasticity (E)152 GPa
e @ 100°C1.30 mm/m
Max Temp350°C

Higher velocity seawater & naval piping.

Aluminum (6061-T6)

Non-ferrous metal

23.6

×10⁻⁶/°C

Elasticity (E)69 GPa
e @ 100°C1.89 mm/m
Max Temp204°C

Large thermal growth; double the expansion of carbon steel.

Yellow Brass (C26000)

Non-ferrous metal

20.0

×10⁻⁶/°C

Elasticity (E)105 GPa
e @ 100°C1.60 mm/m
Max Temp200°C

Instrument tubing, valves and fittings.

Gray cast iron (A48)

Cast iron

10.8

×10⁻⁶/°C

Elasticity (E)100 GPa
e @ 100°C0.86 mm/m
Max Temp232°C

Low-pressure utility, municipal and gravity drainage.

Ductile iron (A536)

Cast iron

11.5

×10⁻⁶/°C

Elasticity (E)165 GPa
e @ 100°C0.92 mm/m
Max Temp343°C

Water, fire protection and municipal distribution.

Unplasticized PVC (uPVC)

Thermoplastic

70.0

×10⁻⁶/°C

Elasticity (E)3 GPa
e @ 100°C5.60 mm/m
Max Temp60°C

Very high expansion — 6x carbon steel! Provide expansion loops.

Chlorinated PVC (CPVC)

Thermoplastic

62.0

×10⁻⁶/°C

Elasticity (E)2.9 GPa
e @ 100°C4.96 mm/m
Max Temp93°C

Hot water & industrial chemical piping.

High-Density Polyethylene (PE100)

Thermoplastic

200.0

×10⁻⁶/°C

Elasticity (E)1 GPa
e @ 100°C16.00 mm/m
Max Temp60°C

Extremely high expansion — 17x carbon steel! Require snaking or anchors.

Polypropylene (PP-H / PP-R)

Thermoplastic

150.0

×10⁻⁶/°C

Elasticity (E)1.4 GPa
e @ 100°C12.00 mm/m
Max Temp95°C

Chemical process lines and hot water distribution.

GRP / FRP (Filament Wound GRE)

Composite

24.0

×10⁻⁶/°C

Elasticity (E)14 GPa
e @ 100°C1.92 mm/m
Max Temp110°C

Axial expansion coefficient; strongly resin- and glass-angle dependent.