ENGINEERING & DESIGN GUIDE
Glossary of Material Properties
A helpful reference guide to the key terms used to define and compare the performance of manufacturing materials.
Tensile Strength
The maximum stress a material can withstand while being pulled apart before breaking. A measure of a material's strength.
Flexural Modulus
A measure of a material's stiffness or resistance to bending. A high flexural modulus means the material is very rigid.
Impact Strength (Izod/Charpy)
A measure of a material's toughness, or its ability to absorb a sudden shock or impact without fracturing.
Heat Deflection Temperature (HDT)
The temperature at which a standard test bar deforms under a specific load. A measure of short-term heat resistance under load.
Glass Transition Temperature (Tg)
The temperature range where an amorphous plastic transitions from a rigid, glassy state to a soft, rubbery state.
Dielectric Strength
The maximum voltage an insulating material can withstand before it breaks down and becomes conductive.
Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (CTE)
A measure of how much a material expands or contracts for each degree of temperature change. Important for parts in assemblies that see wide temperature swings.
Hardness (Rockwell/Shore Durometer)
A measure of a material's resistance to localized surface indentation. Rockwell is used for hard materials like metals, while Shore Durometer is used for soft materials like elastomers.