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.