Comprehensive Classification and Properties of Materials

Classification of Materials

A) Natural materials: Found in nature, these constitute the basic raw materials used to create other products.
Examples: wood, clay, wool, gold.

B) Artificial materials: Manufactured using different materials found in nature, often in significant proportions.
Examples: concrete (consisting of water, cement, sand, and gravel).

C) Synthetic materials: Man-made materials that do not exist in nature.
Examples: plastics, formaldehyde.

Classification by Established Role

1. Stone Materials

• Natural stones: Igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks.
• Agglomerated stones: Porous (brick, tile, clay pipes) and compact (stoneware, porcelain).
• Other: Dishes, slag bricks.

2. Binders

• Air binders: Gypsum, air lime.
• Hydraulic binders: Hydraulic lime, pozzolanic cements.
• Hydrocarbon binders: Bitumen, asphalt, tar.
• Mortars: Cement (water and sand).
• Concrete

3. Metallic Materials

• Ferrous: Iron, steel, cast iron, ferroalloys.
• Non-ferrous: Heavy (lead, copper, nickel, tin) and light (titanium, aluminum).

4. Woods

• Types: Hardwood and softwood.
• Forms: Natural and prefabricated.

5. Plastics

Material Properties

A) Sensory properties: Perceived through the senses, such as touch (soft or rough), smell, shine, texture, color, and form.

B) Optical properties: How materials react to light.

• Opaque: Do not allow light to pass.
• Transparent: Allow full light passage, enabling visibility through the material.
• Translucent: Allow partial light passage.

C) Thermal properties: How materials react to heat, including thermal insulation capabilities.

D) Magnetic properties: The capacity of ferrous materials to be attracted by a magnet.

E) Chemical properties: Related to oxidation and corrosion, particularly in metals.

F) Mechanical properties:

• Elasticity: Ability to recover original shape.
• Plasticity: Ability to retain a new shape after deformation.
• Ductility: Ability to be stretched into threads.
• Malleability: Ability to be spread into sheets.
• Hardness: Resistance to scratching or penetration.
• Fragility: Tendency to break easily under impact.
• Resilience: Resistance to breaking under impact.
• Toughness: Resistance to breaking when deformed slowly.
• Fatigue: Resistance to repetitive strain.