Group

Important Characteristics

Common Examples of Engineering use

Metals and Alloys

Lusture, Hardness, Resistance to Corrosion, Thermal and Electrical Conductivity, Malleability, Stiffness and Property of Magnetism.

Iron and Steels, Aluminium, Copper, Zinc, Magnesium, Brass, Bronze, Invar, Super Alloys, Super-conductors, etc.

Ceramics

Thermal Resistance, Brittleness, Opaqueness to Light, Electrical Insulation, High-temperature Strength, abrasiveness, Resistance to Corrosion.

Silica, Glass, Cement, Concrete, Refractories, Silicon Carbide, Boron Nitride abrasives, Ferrites, Insulators, Garnets, etc.

Organic Polymers

Soft, Light in weight, Dimensionally unstable, Poor Conductors of Heat and Electricity, Ductile, Combustible, Low-thermal Resistance.

Plastics – Poly Vinyl Chloride, Poly Tetra Fluoroethylene, Polycarbonates.

Natural and Synthetic Fibers – Nylon, Terylene, Leather, etc.

Other uses – Explosives, Refrigerants, Insulators, Lubricants, Detergents, Fuels, Vitamins, Medicines, adhesives, etc.