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Alloy
A metal mixed with one or more other elements while molten, to give properties the pure metal does not have, such as extra strength or resistance to rust.
Composite material
A material made by combining two or more different materials that stay separate inside the mix, so the result performs better than either part on its own.
Manufactured board
A flat sheet material made by gluing wood fibres, chips or thin veneers together under heat and pressure, so it behaves the same in every direction instead of following a grain.
Mechanical property
How a material behaves when a force acts on it, covering things like strength, hardness, toughness and how much it bends before it breaks.
Smart material
A material whose properties change in a useful, repeatable way when something around it changes, such as temperature, light, pressure or an electric current.
Thermoplastic
A polymer that softens every time it is heated and hardens again as it cools, so it can be reshaped and recycled more than once.
Thermosetting plastic
A polymer that sets hard once through a chemical reaction and cannot be melted and reshaped again, because its chains are locked together by cross links.
Toughness
A material's ability to absorb a sudden impact or shock without cracking or snapping.