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atom
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The smallest distinguishable unit of a material that maintains the same characteristics.
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conductor
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A material that is very effective at conducting electricity. Metals are generally excellent conductors.
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coolant
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A substance that is used to prevent a workpiece from reaching excessively high temperatures during machining.
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corrosion
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The deterioration of a metal or ceramic.
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covalent bond
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A type of atomic bond that occurs when two atoms share electrons.
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crevice corrosion
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The corrosion of a metal at the joints of a workpiece or component.
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degradation
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The deterioration of a plastic or polymer.
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density
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The relative compactness of a material. Density is the mass of a material per unit volume.
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electrical conductivity
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The ability of a material to convey electricity.
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electron
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The smallest part of the atom that revolves around the nucleus. Electrons have a negative charge, and they are the basic charge of electricity.
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electron cloud
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A sea of electrons that lets electrons freely move around within a metallic bond.
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freezing point
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The temperature necessary to change a liquid to a solid.
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gravity
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The force exerted by the Earth on other objects at or near its surface.
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heat of fusion
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The additional heat that is initially necessary to cause a material to begin to melt.
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insulator
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A material that is highly resistant to the flow of electricity. Ceramics and polymers are excellent insulators.
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ionic bond
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A type of atomic bond that occurs when one atom borrows one or more electrons from another atom.
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liquidus
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The temperature at which an alloy completely finishes melting.
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mass
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The amount of matter that is contained within an object.
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mechanical force
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The application of a force that bends, dents, scratches, compresses, or breaks a material.
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melting point
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The temperature necessary to change a solid to a liquid.
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metal alloy
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A solid combination or mixture of two or more metals, in which the atoms of one metal occupy little spaces between the atoms of the other.
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metallic bond
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A type of atomic bond that occurs when atoms share electrons that float about in a general electron cloud. Metals are held together by metallic bonds.
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molecule
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The smallest unit into which a material can be divided without changing its properties. A molecule consists of a group of atoms held together by strong primary bonds.
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passivation
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Helpful corrosion that protects a material from other harmful effects.
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physical properties
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The way that a material reacts to forces other than mechanical forces. Melting, freezing, thermal conductivity, and electrical conductivity are all physical properties.
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pitting
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The corrosion of a metal that takes place in specific locations on a workpiece or component.
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resistor
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A material that resists the flow of electricity.
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solidus
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The temperature at which a solid alloy begins to melt.
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specific heat
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The amount of heat that is required to raise the temperature of a specific amount of material by one degree.
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strength-to-weight ratio
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The relationship between a material's strength and its weight. Materials that are light but also very strong have a high strength-to-weight ratio.
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thermal conductivity
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The ability of a material to conduct heat.
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thermal expansion
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The tendency of a material to increase in size as it increases in temperature.
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thermal stresses
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A decrease in the quality of a material that occurs due to excessive changes in temperature.
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weight
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The degree of heaviness of an object that results from the gravitational pull of Earth.
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