Material Properties Flashcards
Definition of “Mechanical Properties”
How a material reacts to an external force
Definition of “Physical Properties”
The make-up or structure of the material
Compressive Strength - Mechanical Property
The ability to withstand being crushed or shortened by pushing forces (compression).
Tensile Strength - Mechanical Property
The ability to resist stretching or pulling forces.
Bending Strength - Mechanical Property
The ability to resist forces that may bend the material.
Shear Strength - Mechanical Property
The ability to resist sliding forces on a parallel plane.
Torsional Strength - Mechanical Property
The ability to withstand twisting forces from applied torque or torsion.
Hardness - Mechanical Property
The ability to resist abrasive wear such as scratching, surface indentation or cutting.
Toughness - Mechanical Property
The ability to absorb impact force without fracture.
Plasticity - Mechanical Property
The ability to be permanently deformed (shaped) and retain the deformed shape.
Ductility - Mechanical Property
The ability to be drawn out under tension, reducing cross-sectional area without cracking, for example stretching a material into wire.
Malleability - Mechanical Property
The ability to withstand deformation by compression without cracking. Malleability increases with a rise in temperature.
Elasticity - Mechanical Property
The ability to be deformed and then return to the original shape when the force is removed.
Electrical Conductor - Physical Property
Allows the flow of electrical current through the material. A good conductor gives very little resistance to the flow of charge.
Electrical Insulator - Physical Property
Does not allow the flow of electricity through the material.
Thermal Conductor - Physical Property
Allows the transfer of heat energy through the material. A material with high thermal conductivity allows the transfer of heat to occur quickly across the material.
Thermal Insulator - Physical Property
Prevents the transfer of heat through the material.
Thermal Expansion - Physical Property
The increase in material volume in response to a heat input.
Opaque - Physical Property
Prevents light from travelling through.
Translucent - Physical Property
Allows light through but diffuses the light so that objects appear blurred. Frosted glass is an example of a translucent material.
Transparent - Physical Property
Allows light to pass through easily which means you can see clearly through the material.
Density - Physical Property
The mass of the material in a standard volume of space.
Fusibility - Physical Property
The ability of the material to be fused or converted from a solid to a liquid or molten state, usually by heat. Good fusibility is an essential property for a metal being cast.
Magnetism - Physical Property
The natural force between objects that causes the material to attract iron or steels.
Corrosion / Degration Resistance - Physical Property
The ability of the material to withstand environmental attack and decay.
