Abstract:Several runs of thermal expansion measurements was presented for Pyros specimen, the precision and
bias of the result show that the instrument is in a good condition. A large number of thermal expansion measurements
was presented for the glass fiber/ phenolic resin composites as a function of holding time, heating rate and curing treat鄄
ment. The specimen was further cured by the increase of temperature, and the shrinkage of the specimen by the loss
of volatiles and the thermal deformation of curing reaction can counteract the expansion by the heating, which caused
plateau on the heating curves. Repeated expansion measurements for the specimen shows that the curves of heating
and cooling progress were almost identical. Heating treatment is necessary before thermal expansion measurements,
and the heating temperature should be higher than the measurement temperature, but lower than curing temperature
which keeps the microstructure of composites unchanged. The appropriate heating rate should be applied, for higher
heating rate will infect precision of the measured result, while lower heating rate will increase time cost
