What are the important properties of material
When selecting a material for a given application the material properties must satisfy the function and the operating conditions of the component or the structure being designed. The properties, which directly influence the choice of material, can be summarized under the following categories:
Mechanical Properties: e.g. stiffness, strength, ductility, hardness, toughness, etc.
Physical Properties: e.g. density, electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, etc.
Chemical Properties: e.g. corrosion resistance in various environments.
Manufacturing Properties: e.g. formability, machinability, ease of joining, etc.
The functional requirements of a product are directly determined by the mechanical, physical, chemical properties. However, for the product to be technically manufacturable, the material must have the right manufacturing properties. For example, a forged component requires a material with sufficient flowability without cracking during forging, a cast component requires a material that flows readily in the molten state and fills the mould and on solidification does not produce undesirable pores and cracks.