The synthesis of polycrystalline $Al_2TiO_5$ ceramics with low thermal expansion by fusion in an electric arc furnance was investigated. The thermal expansion curves of $Al_2TiO_5$ ceramics were lowered because of microcracks caused by the strong thermal expansion anisotropy of the crystal axes and were accompanied by hysteresis curves. These phenomena are explained by the opening and closing of microcracks. The difference in microcracking temperatures of dilatometric cooling curves in the range of 400~$620^{circ}C$ is caused by the difference in sintering temperature, grain size and stabilization status.