Properties of Materials

Basic Properties of Materials

• Density is a measure of how much mass a material has per unit volume. It is typically calculated by dividing the mass by the volume of the material.
• Porosity is the measure of the void spaces in a material. This property influences the strength, permeability and durability of materials.
• Moisture Content is the amount of water present in a material. This can significantly affect the electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and mechanical properties of the material.
• Thermal Expansion is the ability of a material to expand or contract due to changes in temperature. Some materials, like metal, expand considerably when heated.

Mechanical Properties of Materials

• Strength: It’s the capacity of a material to resist forces and loads. Different types of strengths include tensile strength, compressive strength, shear strength, and bending strength.
• Hardness is the ability of a material to resist deformation. Materais with high hardness are resistant to wear and tear and are less prone to scratching.
• Elasticity is the capability of a material to return to its original shape when the stressing forces are removed. Materials that are not elastic remain deformed after force is applied and removed.
• Plasticity: This is the property of a material to permanently deform under stress without breaking or cracking. Materials with high plasticity, like clay, can be moulded into different shapes.
• Toughness is the ability of a material to absorb energy and plastically deform without breaking or shattering. It can also be thought of as a measure of a material’s resistance to fracture.
• Brittleness is the opposite of toughness. Brittle materials, like glass, exhibit little or no plastic deformation prior to failure.

Electrical Properties of Materials

• Conductivity is the ability of a material to allow the passage of electrics currents. Metals such as copper and silver are good conductors.
• Resistivity is the resistance a material offers to the flow of electrical current. Materials with high resistivity, like rubber or glass, are used as insulators.
• Dielectric Strength is the maximum electric field a material can withstand before it breaks down or conducts. High dielectric materials are used in capacitors to store electrical energy.

Thermal Properties of Materials

• Thermal Conductivity is the ability of a material to conduct heat. Metals typically have high thermal conductivity, meaning they transport heat efficiently.
• Specific Heat Capacity is the energy required to change a unit amount of a substance’s temperature by a degree. It’s a measure of how much heat energy a material can store.
• Thermal Resistance, or R-value, is a measure of a material’s ability to resist heat flow. Materials with high thermal resistance are used in insulation applications.