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Thermal
Expansion
Table of Contents
Physical
& Chemical Properties
The volume of a given oil mass increases with temperature, therefore,
its density decreases. The degree of expansion is expressed as the
coefficient of thermal expansion. Thermal expansion is useful to determine
the size of a container needed when the oil will be heated. Inexperienced
people often have an oil overflow because of a surprising amount of
thermal expansion.
In HDL, the thermal expansion of the oil in the clearance of a bearing
increases the hydraulic pressure. Some researchers discuss the "thermal
wedge" mechanism of film formation and apply it to parallel sliding
surfaces, especially flat, non tilting, thrust bearings.
The coefficient of thermal expansion is the ratio of the relative
change of volume to a change in temperature. Thermal expansion is
expressed as the ratio of volume change to the initial volume after
heating 1 degree C. Therefore, the unit is reciprocal degree C, or
degree C-1. The values of the coefficient of thermal expansion for
mineral oil are near 6.4 X 10-4 degree C-1.
Thermal expansion (or contraction) determinations require the measurement
of the volume of a given mass of oil at various temperatures. The
sample is placed in a graduated cylinder and the volume is observed
as the temperature is either increased or decreased. A simplified
method of calculating the thermal expansion of petroleum products
can be found in ASTM D 1250, Petroleum Measurement Tables, "Volume
Corrections Factors".
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