Thermal expansion at elevated temperatures III. A hemispherical laminar composite of pyrolytic graphite, silicon carbide and its constituents between 300 and 800 K

Attention is drawn to attempts which have been made to calculate thermal and elastic properties of particle-, fibre- and laminar-reinforced composite materials from corresponding properties of their constituents. The results of measurements of the linear coefficients of thermal expansion of small (similar 0·5 mm) hollow hemispherical specimens of pyrolytic graphite, silicon carbide and triplet hemispherical composite specimens of these components over the approximate temperature range 300 to 800 K are then reported. In conclusion it is shown how dilatation in composite structures such as these is amenable to the application of classical elasticity theory, and how agreement between the results of such calculations and observation provides evidence for the absence of layer separation resulting from constrained expansion.