We explain what toughness is in physics, we give you various examples of tough materials and other properties of materials.
What is toughness?
Tenacity is a property of materials consisting of the ability to absorb Energy deformation in large quantities, before breaking. For example, there is talk of minerals tenacious as those who most resist being broken, ground, torn or suppressed.
The toughness of a material depends on the degree of cohesion that exists between its molecules, but should not be confused with your endurance mechanical, nor with its elasticity or its fragility. Tough materials deform before breaking, especially when subjected to tensile forces, for example, when stretched from two opposite ends.
This property of matter also inspires a metaphorical use of the term, and that has to do with the capacity for perseverance, stubbornness and persistence in the proposed objectives. A person tenacious is generally appreciated for its commitment with the achievement of their goals, just like him metal tenacious holds together in the face of a force that would ordinarily have caused it to break.
Examples of tough materials
Examples of tough materials are:
- Most of the metals, like steel, copper, iron.
- Polymeric materials, such as wood or certain plastics.
- Limestone, granite and concrete.
Other material properties
In addition to toughness, materials can have properties such as:
- Hardness. It is the ability to resist superficial physical alterations such as scratching, abrasion or cuts and penetration. These materials do not suffer deformations.
- Fragility. It is the ease with which a material it can break and / or chip in the presence of a deformation force. Brittle materials are hard and do not deform.
- Elasticity. It is the ability of a material to regain its original shape after being subjected to a deformation force. Elastic materials are not brittle or hard, and they have a great shape memory.
- Permeability. It is the ability of certain materials to allow the passage of Water or others liquids through them, due to the degree of porosity of the material. The more porous materials are permeable, the less porous are waterproof.
- Ductility. It is the ability of certain materials to be stretched by traction forces and not break, turning into threads of the same material, but of an increasingly thin thickness as the force increases.
- Malleability. It is the ability of certain materials to be laminated, that is, to acquire the shape of thin sheets without breaking, through percussion mechanisms.