Mechanical Properties

Question 1

Strength

Answer 1

Ability to withstand force. Can be Compressive or Tensile or mechanical (the ability to withstand an applied load without deformation or failure). Strength can also be measured by bending and torsional forces.

Question 2

Elasticity

Answer 2

Ability to bend without fracture when subjected to a force.

Question 3

Plasticity

Answer 3

Ability to permanently deform without fracture when subjected to a force

Question 4

Malleability

Answer 4

Ability to be worked without fracture.
Pressure, or compressive stress, is used to press or roll the material into thinner sheets. A material with high malleability will be able to withstand higher pressure without breaking.

Question 5

Ductility

Answer 5

Ability to be drawn out without fracture.
Ductility is the ability of a material to deform plastically (that is, stretch) without fracturing and retain the new shape when the load is removed. Think of it as the ability to stretch a given metal into a wire.

Question 6

Hardness

Answer 6

Ability to resist abrasive wear

Question 7

Toughness

Answer 7

Ability to withstand sudden stress or shocks. Toughness is often related to temperature. Objects at a colder temperature are often more brittle. Think about those experiments you see where objects are frozen at -70 degrees that then shatter when hit.

Question 8

Brittleness

Answer 8

In inability to withstand sudden stress or shocks

Question 9

Physical Durability

Answer 9

Ability to withstand deterioration over a period of time.
Examples are
1. Freezing and thawing action
2. Percolation / Permeability of water
3. Temperature stresses i.e. high heat of hydration

Question 10

Stability

Answer 10

Ability to resist changes in shape over a period of time

Question 11

Stiffness

Answer 11

Ability to resist bending