Classification of Materials

Classification of Materials

Materials used in the design and manufacture of products

• Plastics• Wood• Ceramics• Metals • Fabrics

Classification of Materials (Fabrics)

Fabrics can be further classified as natural and synthetic

Natural Synthetic

Cotton Nylon

Canvas Polyester

Metallic Lustre (appearance)

Metallic minerals have the lustre of polished metal surfaces will act like a mirror. Examples include Gold

and Silver.

Dull Lustre (appearance)

Dull minerals exhibit little to no lustre, due to coarse granulations which scatter light in all directions. 

In general, materials can be classified as “soft” and “hard” materials. For example a pillow is soft and a wood is hard.

Soft and hard materials