Property Terms Flashcards
Define compressive strength
The ability to withstand being crushed or shortened by pushing forces (compression)
Define tensile strength
The ability to resist stretching or pulling forces (tension)
Define bending strength
The ability to resist forces that may bend the material
Define shear strength
The ability to resist sliding forces on a parallel plane
Define torsional strength
The ability to withstand twisting forces from applied torque or torsion
Define hardness
The ability to resist abrasive wear such as scratching, surface indentation or cutting
Define toughness
The ability to absorb impact force without fracture
Define plasticity
The ability to be permanently deformed (shaped) and retain the deformed shape
Define ductility
The ability to be drawn out under tension, reducing the cross-sectional area without cracking e.g stretching a material into a wire
Define malleability
The ability to withstand deformation by compression without cracking and increases with a rise in temperature
Define elasticity
The ability to be deformed and then return to the original shape when the force is removed
Define Electrical conductor
• Allows the flow of electric current through the material • Good conductor gives very little resistance to the flow of charge
Define electrical insulator
Does not allow the flow of electricity through the material
Define thermal conductor (2)
• Allows the transfer of heat energy through material • A material with high thermal conductivity allows the transfer of heat to occur quickly across the material
Define thermal insulator
Prevents the transfer of heat through the material
Benefits of something being corrosion resistant
• Doesn’t rust • Lasts longer as quality of the product won’t be damaged
Benefits of a product being lightweight (2)
• Easier to handle (depending on the product) • For transport - lightweight may maximise increase the speed
Benefit of good chemical resistance for polymers
Polymers are commonly used for applications that require exposure to acids, bases, solvents and other chemicals
Benefits of a product being weatherproof
If it’s an outside product it makes it safe for public use as the quality of that product is not impacted by weather
Define weathering resistance
A product can resist exposure to a range of weather conditions
Define density
The mass of the material in a standard volume of space
Define fusibility
Define magnetism
Is the natural force between objects that causes the material to attract iron or steels
Define corrosion-degradation resistance
The ability of the material to withstand environmental attack and decay
Define thermal expansion
The increase in material volume in response to a heat input
Define mechanical properties
Are properties that are associated with how a material reacts to an external force
Examples of mechanical properties (11)
- Compressive strength
- Tensile strength
- Bonding strength
- Shear strength
- Torsional strength
- Hardness
- Toughness
- Plasticity
- Ductility
- Malleability
- Elasticity
Define physical properties
Are properties that are associated with the actual make-up or structure of the material
Examples of physical properties (4)
- Density
- Fusibility
- Magnetism
- Corrosion-degradation resistance
Define opaque
Prevents light from travelling through
Define translucent
Allows light through but diffuses the light so that objects appear blurred; frosted glass is an example of a translucent material
Define transparent
Allows light to pass through easily, which means you can see through the material
