Key Terms in Material Properties and Testing Methods

Manufactured board

a man-made, wood-based composite material.

Stock form

the set of standard sizes in which materials are available, as well as the format e.g. powders, granules, sheets etc.

Mechanical properties

associated with how a material reacts to an external force.

Physical properties

associated with the actual make-up or structure of the material.

Compressive strength

the ability to withstand being crushed or shortened by pushing forces.

Tensile strength

the ability to resist stretching or pulling forces.

Hardness

the ability to resist abrasive wear such as scratching, surface indentation or cutting.

Toughness

the ability to absorb impact force without fracture.

Composite

a material comprised of two or more different materials, resulting in a material with enhanced properties.

Smart material

a material whose physical properties change in response to an input or change in the environment, such as electricity, pressure, temperature or light.

Modern material

a material developed through the invention of new or improved processes, for example as a result of man-made materials or human intervention.

Ferrous metal

a metal containing mostly iron and carbon.

Non-ferrous metal

a metal which does not contain iron.

Alloy

a metal made of two or more metals, or combining two or more elements, one of which must be a metal.

Thermoplastic

a material that can be repeatedly reheated and reshaped.

Thermosetting polymer

a material which when heated undergoes a chemical change whereby the molecules form rigid cross links.

Elastomer

materials which at room temperature can be deformed under pressure, and then upon release of the pressure will return to their original shape.