Material

Material is a broad term that refers to the physical substances that things can be made from. Materials can be classified based on their physical or chemical properties, and are often grouped into categories such as metals, polymers, ceramics, composites, and biomaterials.

Classification of Materials

Materials can be classified into five main categories:

1. Metals: These are typically hard, shiny, malleable, fusible, and ductile, with good electrical and thermal conductivity. Examples include iron, gold, silver, copper, and aluminum.
2. Polymers: These are large molecules composed of repeating subunits. They can be natural or synthetic and are often used in plastics, rubbers, and fibers.
3. Ceramics: These are hard, brittle, heat-resistant, and corrosion-resistant materials made by shaping and then firing a nonmetallic mineral, such as clay, at a high temperature.
4. Composites: These are made from two or more constituent materials with significantly different physical or chemical properties, that when combined, produce a material with characteristics different from the individual components.
5. Biomaterials: These are any matter, surface, or construct that interacts with biological systems. They are often used in medical applications.

Properties of Materials

The properties of materials can be divided into two main categories: physical properties and chemical properties.

Physical properties include color, density, mass, volume, and temperature, among others. Chemical properties include reactivity, flammability, and oxidation states, among others.

Uses of Materials

Materials are used in a wide range of applications, from construction and manufacturing to technology and medicine. The choice of material often depends on its properties, cost, and availability.

See Also

• Material science
• Material engineering
• Material properties

Material Resources
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