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Design contexts - EdexcelMaterial properties

Designers need to ensure their designs are fit for purpose. Making informed material and manufacturing decisions can help ensure materials are conserved and the impact on the environment is reduced.

Part of Design and TechnologyCore content

Material properties

Designers are required to use their understanding of material to make informed selections when designing products. When making a selection, two types of properties must be taken into consideration:

mechanical - how a material will perform and react when exposed to external forces and loads
physical - something that can be measured, like weight and size

Mechanical properties

Mechanical property	Definition
Durability	The ability of a material to withstand damage or wear
Ductility	The ability of a material to deform by bending, twisting or stretching
Strength	The ability of a material to withstand forces without bending or breaking
Malleability	The ability of a material to deform without cracking
Stiffness	The ability of a material to hold its shape without bending
Brittleness	When a material cannot absorb energy and will result in the material breaking into pieces
Hardness	The ability of a material to withstand indentation, scratching and wear
Toughness	The ability of a material to withstand impact without breaking

Mechanical property	Durability
Definition	The ability of a material to withstand damage or wear

Mechanical property	Ductility
Definition	The ability of a material to deform by bending, twisting or stretching

Mechanical property	Strength
Definition	The ability of a material to withstand forces without bending or breaking

Mechanical property	Malleability
Definition	The ability of a material to deform without cracking

Mechanical property	Stiffness
Definition	The ability of a material to hold its shape without bending

Mechanical property	Brittleness
Definition	When a material cannot absorb energy and will result in the material breaking into pieces

Mechanical property	Hardness
Definition	The ability of a material to withstand indentation, scratching and wear

Mechanical property	Toughness
Definition	The ability of a material to withstand impact without breaking

Physical properties

Physical property	Definition
Aesthetics	The appearance of a material, including colour and feel
Density	The amount of material contained in a set volume
Conductivity	The ability of a material to hold heat in or out (thermal) or the ability of electrical current to flow through a material (electrical)
Corrosion	The breakdown of a metal due to a reaction with water
Size	The measured dimensions of a material in two or three dimensions
Magnetic	The ability of a material to be attracted to a magnet

Physical property	Aesthetics
Definition	The appearance of a material, including colour and feel

Physical property	Density
Definition	The amount of material contained in a set volume

Physical property	Conductivity
Definition	The ability of a material to hold heat in or out (thermal) or the ability of electrical current to flow through a material (electrical)

Physical property	Corrosion
Definition	The breakdown of a metal due to a reaction with water

Physical property	Size
Definition	The measured dimensions of a material in two or three dimensions

Physical property	Magnetic
Definition	The ability of a material to be attracted to a magnet

Manufacturing processes

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