New Theory Explaining Why Certain Alloys don't change size when heated

In summary, thermal expansion is a common property of most materials, but there is a class of metal alloys called Invars that do not change in size or density when heated. This is due to spin flipping, which counteracts the usual thermal expansion in these alloys.
  • #1
14,740
9,085
https://www.caltech.edu/about/news/some-alloys-dont-change-size-when-heated-we-now-know-why

Nearly every material, whether it is solid, liquid, or gas, expands when its temperature goes up and contracts when its temperature goes down. This property, called thermal expansion, makes a hot air balloon float, and the phenomenon has been harnessed to create thermostats that automatically turn a home furnace on and off. Railroads, bridges, and buildings are designed with this property in mind, and they are given room to expand without buckling or breaking on a hot day.

Thermal expansion occurs because a material's atoms vibrate more as its temperature increases. The more its atoms vibrate, the more they push away from their neighboring atoms. As the space between the atoms increases, the density of the material decreases and its overall size increases.

There are a few exceptions, but by and large, materials conform strictly to this principle. There is, however, a class of metal alloys called Invars (think invariable), that stubbornly refuse to change in size and density over a large range of temperatures.

...
 
  • Like
Likes DeBangis21
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
In short, spin flipping due to temperature hinting at thermal contraction counteracts the usual thermal expansion almost exactly, for a mix of iron and nickel.
 

Similar threads

Replies
5
Views
985
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
1
Views
887
Replies
1
Views
4K
Replies
6
Views
1K
Replies
6
Views
1K
  • Cosmology
Replies
4
Views
1K
Replies
13
Views
2K
  • Thermodynamics
Replies
8
Views
6K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
5
Views
1K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
13
Views
20K
Back
Top