3.1.1 Materials and their applications Flashcards
mechanical properties
associated with how a material reacts to an external force
compressive strength
the ability to withstand being crushed/shortened by pushing forces (compression)
tensile strength
the ability to withstand stretching or pulling forces (tension)
shear strength
the ability to resist sliding forces on a parallel plane
hardness
the ability to resist abrasive wear such as scratching, surface indentation, or cutting
Bending strength
the ability to resist forces that may bend the material
Torsional strength
the ability to withstand twisting forces from applied torque or torsion
toughness
the ability to absorb impact force without fracture
plasticity
the ability to be permanently deformed (shaped) and retain the deformed shape
ductility
the ability to be drawn out under tension, reducing the cross-sectional area without cracking, 4eg stretching a material into a wire
malleability
the ability to withstand deformation by compression without cracking, it increases with a rise in temperature
elasticity
the ability to be deformed and then return to the original shape when the force is removed
physical properties
associated with the actual make-up/structure of the material
electrical conductor
allows the flow of electrical current through a material, good conductor = gives v little resistance to flow of charge
electrical insulator
does not allow the flow of electricity through the material
thermal conductor
allows the transfer of heat energy through the material, high thermal conductivity = faster transfer of heat across the material
thermal insulator
prevents the transfer of heat through the material
thermal expansion
the increase in material volume in response to a heat input
opaque
prevents light from travelling through
translucent
allows light through but diffuses the light so that objects appear blurred, 4eg frosted glass
transparent
allows light to pass through easily which means you can see clearly through the material
density
the mass of the material in a standard volume of space
fusibility
the ability of the material to be fused or converted from a solid to a liquid or molten state, usually by heat
magnetism
the natural force between objects that causes the material to attract iron or steels
