Thermal expansion of cross-ply and woven carbon fibre–copper matrix composites

This paper presents thermal expansion data for cross-ply and woven copper matrix–carbon fibre composites (Cu–C f MMCs) that were prepared by diffusion bonding. Thermal expansion was measured in two perpendicular in-plane directions of plate samples. For cross-ply samples (57 vol.%fibres) the mean coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) between −20 and 300°C changed from approximately 6.5×10 −6/°C to 3.5×10 −6/°C during heating/cooling. The in-plane CTE increases with decreasing fibre content. Composites with woven arrangement of carbon fibres show a slightly higher CTE at elevated temperature.