Material Properties

1. Stiffness Amount of force needed to change the shape of a material, opposite to flexible.

1.1. Technological

2. Absorbency Ability of a material to soak up a liquid. Waterproof Resistance to liquids, repels water.

2.1. Chemical

3. A material can be described in a variety of ways for example it may be strong but brittle, and the combination of its properties may determine its use.

3.1. Technological

4. The property of a material can change according to how the material is treated; clay is very different once it has been fired, rolled up newspaper is very different to a sheet of newspaper.

4.1. Chemical

5. Hardness Resistance to scratching and pressure. Hardwood does not mark as easily as softwood.

5.1. Physical

6. Strength Amount of force needed to break a material usually by pushing or pulling down.

6.1. Physical

7. Toughness Resistance to breaking by cracking, opposite to ‘brittle’.

7.1. Physical

8. Elasticity Ability to return its original shape when a force is removed eg rubber band.

8.1. Physical

9. Plasticity Ability to retain the new shape when a force is removed eg plasticene.

9.1. Physical