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body-centered cubic
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The crystal structure that contains an atom in the center and one atom in each corner of a cube. Metals with a body-centered cubic crystal structure tend to be hard.
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bond
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An attraction that forms when electrons are shared or transferred among atoms. Atomic bonds become the "glue" that holds the atoms together.
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Brinell test
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A hardness test that measures the diameter of a circle formed by the penetration of a 10mm steel ball under a fixed load pressure.
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Charpy test
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An impact test that measures the amount of energy a material can absorb. The material is broken by a falling pendulum, and the following upswing of the pendulum is measured.
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cold working
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The shaping of metal at temperatures much lower than the metal's molten state. Steel is often cold worked at room temperature.
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compression strength
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A material's ability to resist forces that attempt to compress or squeeze the material together.
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compression stress
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A force that attempts to flatten or "squeeze" a material.
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crystal structure
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The formation of crystals, which consist of a repeating pattern of atoms. A crystalline structure develops as a liquid metal cools and changes into a solid.
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cutting tool
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A device with sharp edges used to cut metal. Cutting tools are either single point or multi-point.
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drawn
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The attempt to pull a metal through a die in order to stretch it.
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ductile
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Able to be drawn, stretched, or formed without breaking.
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ductility
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A metal's ability to be drawn, stretched, or formed without breaking.
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elastic region
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The region of the stress-strain graph in which deformation is temporary. If a material is forced beyond the elastic region, it experiences plastic deformation.
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face-centered cubic
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The crystal structure that contains one atom in the center of the six sides of a cube and one atom in each corner of the cube. Metals with a face-centered cubic crystal structure tend to be ductile.
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grain
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An individual crystal in a metal or alloy.
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hardness
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A material's ability to resist penetration, indentation, or scratching. Hard materials tend to be very wear resistant.
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hexagonal close-packed
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The crystal structure that contains a collection of atoms that are closely packed into the shape of a hexagon. Metals with a hexagonal close-packed crystal structure tend to be brittle.
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impact toughness
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The amount of energy that a material can absorb from a sudden, sharp blow before it breaks or fractures.
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indenter
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A device used in a hardness test that is pressed into the test material.
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load
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The weight or burden that is supported by a material.
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mechanical properties
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The properties that describe a material's ability to compress, stretch, bend, scratch, dent, or break.
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modulus of elasticity
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A variable that describes the relationship of stress to strain within the elastic region. The modulus of elasticity describes a material's stiffness.
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necking
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The reduction in diameter that occurs as a sample material is subjected to tensile stresses.
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plastic deformation
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Deformation that is permanent. Plastic deformation occurs after excessive elastic deformation.
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plastic region
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An area of the stress-strain graph in which permanent changes to a metal begin to occur.
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properties
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The characteristics of a material that distinguish it from other materials.
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Rockwell test
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A hardness test that measures the degree of penetration into a metal caused by a diamond or other hard material that is applied under a fixed load.
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safety factor
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A number that describes the safe, allowable working stress of a material.
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shear strength
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A material's ability to resist forces that attempt to cause the internal structure of the material to slide against itself.
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shear stress
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A force that attempts to cause the internal structure of a material to slide against itself.
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slip band
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The appearance of fragmented crystals and spaces indicating that a metal is about to break.
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stamping die
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An assembled device with an upper and lower plate that opens and closes and contains special tools for cutting or shaping sheet metal.
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steel
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A metal consisting of iron and carbon, usually with small amounts of manganese, phosphorus, sulfur, and silicon.
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strain
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The ratio of change in a dimension that takes place with a material under stress.
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strength
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A metal's ability to resist outside forces that are trying to break or deform the metal.
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stress
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A force that attempts to deform an object.
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stress-strain graph
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A graph that describes the relationship between stress and strain and marks the elastic and plastic regions for a given material.
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tensile strength
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A material's ability to resist forces that attempt to pull it apart or stretch it.
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tensile stress
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A force that attempts to pull apart or stretch a material.
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torsion stress
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A type of shear stress that attempts to twist a material against itself.
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toughness
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The amount of energy a material can absorb before it breaks.
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yield strength
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The point on the stress-strain curve where there is a sudden increase in strain, but no increase in stress. It is at this point that a metal is about to permanently deform.
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