Plastic - Craft Material Type Glossary

Plastic - Craft Material Type Glossary

Comprehensive Material Properties Glossary

Welcome to the ultimate guide for understanding material properties! This glossary covers 25 essential terms, including their definitions and standard testing methods. Use this as a quick reference to better understand materials' behavior under various conditions.

Key topics include:

  • Thermal and electrical properties
  • Mechanical strength and flexibility
  • Fire resistance and safety ratings
  • Material toughness and durability

Scroll down to explore the full glossary and dive deeper into each property.

Arc Resistance

Definition: The time a material resists forming a surface-conducting path when subjected to an arc of high voltage and low current.

Tests: ASTM D495

Coefficient of Thermal Expansion

Definition: The tendency of a material to expand when heated, quantified as the fractional change in size per degree of temperature change.

Tests: ASTM E831 (TMA), ASTM D696, ISO 11359

Deflection Temperature

Definition: The temperature at which a polymer or plastic sample deforms under a specified load in a three-point configuration.

Tests: ASTM D648, ISO 75

Dielectric Constant

Definition: A measure of a material's ability to resist the formation of an electric field. High values indicate the ability to hold large charges.

Tests: IEC 250, ASTM D150

Dielectric Strength

Definition: The maximum voltage per unit thickness a material can handle before electrical breakdown occurs.

Tests: IEC 243, ASTM D149

Dissipation Factor

Definition: The percentage of electrical energy lost when electrical current is applied to an insulating material.

Tests: IEC 250, ASTM D150

Elongation

Definition: The percentage increase in length of a material when placed under tension.

Tests: ASTM D638, ISO 527

Flame Spread

Definition: A measure of a material's tendency to transmit fire to other materials, quantified by factors like flame height and burning rate.

Tests: ASTM E84

Flammability Rating

Definition: A classification of how easily a material catches fire, with ratings such as 94HB, 94V-2, 94V-0, and 94-5VB.

Tests: UL 94

Flexural Modulus

Definition: The ratio of stress to strain in a material under flexural deformation, indicative of how much the material bends.

Tests: ISO 178, ASTM D790

Flexural Strength

Definition: The measure of a material's ability to resist deformation when under load.

Tests: ISO 178, ASTM D790

Hardness

Definition: A measure of how resistant a material is to various kinds of permanent shape change when a force is applied.

Tests: Rockwell E, Rockwell M, Rockwell R, Rockwell L, Shore A, Shore D

Impact Strength

Definition: The toughness of a material, measured by its ability to absorb energy during deformation.

Tests: ASTM D256, ISO 180

Specific Gravity

Definition: The ratio of the density of a material to the density of water at the same temperature.

Tests: ASTM D792, ISO 1183

Specific Volume

Definition: The ratio of a substance’s volume to its mass; it is inversely proportional to density.

Tests: ASTM D792, ISO 1183

Thermal Conductivity

Definition: The rate of heat flow through a material per unit thickness per degree of temperature difference across the thickness.

Tests: ASTM C177, ISO 8302

Tensile Modulus

Definition: The ratio of stress to elastic strain in a material in tension; lower values indicate a material stretches more.

Tests: ASTM D638, ISO 527

Tensile Strength

Definition: The force per unit area required to break a material by stretching.

Tests: ASTM D638, ISO 527

Volume Resistivity

Definition: The insulating material's ability to resist leakage current.

Tests: ASTM D257, IEC 93

Water Absorption

Definition: The percentage increase in weight of a material after exposure to water under specified conditions.

Tests: ASTM D570, ISO 62

Yield Strength

Definition: The stress at which a material begins to deform plastically.

Tests: ASTM E8

Creep Resistance

Definition: The ability of a material to resist long-term deformation under sustained load.

Tests: ASTM E139

Poisson's Ratio

Definition: The ratio of transverse strain to axial strain in a material under tension.

Tests: ASTM E132

Thermal Shock Resistance

Definition: The ability of a material to withstand rapid temperature changes without damage.

Tests: ASTM C1525

Wear Resistance

Definition: The ability of a material to resist wear and tear during surface contact with other materials.

Tests: ASTM G65

Nov 27th 2024 Mohhamed Ali

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