How does the thermal expansion coefficient of WPC compare to aluminum or steel?
The thermal expansion coefficient of Wood-Plastic Composite (WPC) differs significantly from metals like aluminum and steel. WPC typically has a higher thermal expansion coefficient than steel but lower than aluminum. Steel, being a metal with strong atomic bonds, expands the least under heat, while aluminum expands more due to its lower density and weaker bonds. WPC, a hybrid material, falls in between but is closer to aluminum in behavior. This makes WPC less stable than steel in temperature-varying environments but more stable than pure aluminum. Understanding these differences is crucial for applications like construction, where material stability under thermal stress is vital. Designers must account for these variations to avoid structural issues like warping or gaps.
