Anisotropy of thermal expansion in Mg- and Mg4Li-matrix composites reinforced by short alumina fibers

The thermal expansion of Mg- and Mg4Li-matrix composites reinforced with 10 vol.% short Saffil fibers (SF) has been investigated at temperatures of RT-360 °C relating to the fiber orientation (in-plane and cross-plane). The in-plane coefficients of thermal expansion (CTEs) of composites are primarily influenced by the matrix yielding which results in significantly lower in-plane thermal expansivity of Mg/SF composite than that of Mg4Li/SF. In-plane and cross-plane CTEs of the composite studied behave complementarily: the lower the in-plane CTE, the larger the cross-plane CTE and vice versa.