DT - Product Design Keywords

Compressive Strength

Resistant to crushing/squeezing forces

Toughness

Resistant to impact

Benching strength

Resistance to deforming

Corrosion

Resistance to decaying oxidation process

Shear strength

Resistance to a perpendicular force

Magnetism

Extent to which a material is attracted to a magnetic field

Plasticity

Ability of a material to be moulded

Brightness

How white a material is (in terms of paper and boards)

Biodegradable

The extent to which a material can be broken down by enzymes as part of a natural process

Density

How compact a substance is

Ductility

The extent to which a material can be drawn through a wire

Tensile strength

Resilience to a pulling force

Malleability

The extent to which a material can be deformed without cracking

Torsional strength

Resistance to twisting forces

Thermal Conductor

A material that allows heat to pass through

Hard

Resistance to scratches and indentation

Fusibility

The extent to which a material can be bonded

Recyclable

The extent to which to which a material can be reprocessed for reuse

Water Resistance

The extent to which a material repels liquid

Wipe-Clean

The extent to which a material can be cleansed with a cloth

Sterile

The extent to which a product can be made free from bacteria

Anisotropic

A material that resists a given force in one direction and not in another.

Flexibility

The ability of a material to be bent without breaking

Shrinkage

The extent to which a material reduces in size due to moisture

Thermal expansion

The extent to which a material increased in size due to heat

Elasticity

The ability of a material to return to its original shape when deformed

Electrical Insulator

A material that doesn’t allow electrical current to pass through

Warpage

A defect which has caused a material to twist

Electrical Conductor

A material that allows electrical current to pass through

Absorbency

The extent to which a material will soak up liquid

Waterproof

The extent to which a material will allow liquid to pass through

Splitting

The defect which has caused a material to crack

Toxicity

The extent to which a material or substance is bad for your health

Machienability

How easy a material is to work

Thermal Insulator

A material that doesn’t allow heat to pass through

Bowing

A defect which has caused a material to bend

Transparency

The extent to which a material is see-through

Translucent

Semi-transparent. Allows light but not detailed shapes to pass through

Opaque

Lacking transparency/translucency