CTE (Coefficient of Thermal Expansion)

The Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (CTE) measures how much a material expands or contracts when its temperature changes. It quantifies the material's sensitivity to temperature fluctuations, expressed as a ratio of how much length (or volume) changes per degree of temperature. For example, materials with a high CTE expand more when heated, while those with a low CTE change less. Understanding CTE is important in engineering and construction to ensure materials fit together properly across temperature variations, preventing stress, deformation, or damage in structures and devices.