Essential Material Categories for Industrial Design
Industrial designers routinely work with three primary material classifications: metallic substrates, polymer composites, and natural substances. Metallic materials encompass aluminum alloys (AL60
61
), stainless steel (SUS3
04
), and brass (C36
04
), each specified by international grading standards. Polymer selections range from engineering plastics like ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) to elastomers such as silicone rubber (VMQ). Did you know that material specifications often include both ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) and ISO (International Organization for Standardization) codes? Natural materials like hardwood (teak/Tectona grandis) and stone (granite/igneous rock) require precise botanical or geological identifiers for accurate sourcing.
Advanced Composite Materials in Modern Design
Contemporary design projects increasingly utilize FRP (Fiber-Reinforced Polymer) and CFRP (Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic) for their superior strength-to-weight ratios. These composite materials combine matrix substances like epoxy resin with reinforcement fibers, achieving tensile strengths exceeding
3,500 MPa. Technical documentation for composites must specify fiber orientation (unidirectional vs. woven) and resin curing methods (autoclave vs. RTM). How do designers balance material performance with manufacturing constraints? Material datasheets typically include critical parameters: thermal expansion coefficients, Young's modulus values, and flammability ratings (UL94 standards).
Surface Treatment Material Terminology
Finishing processes require specific material terminology including powder coating (thermoset polymer particles
), anodizing (type II vs type III aluminum oxidation
), and PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) coatings. Electroplating specifications detail layer compositions like nickel-chromium (Ni-Cr) or zinc-nickel (Zn-Ni) alloys with thickness measurements in microns (μm). Surface roughness parameters (Ra values) and gloss levels (60° vs 85° measurement angles) must be precisely documented. Why do international projects require DIN (Deutsches Institut für Normung) and JIS (Japanese Industrial Standards) references? These standardized specifications ensure consistent quality across global supply chains.
Packaging Design Material Glossary
Packaging designers utilize specialized materials like corrugated board (type C flute
), duplex board (220-400gsm
), and BOPP (Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene) films. Barrier materials require precise terminology: EVOH (Ethylene-Vinyl Alcohol) for oxygen protection, aluminum foil laminates (9-12μm thickness
), and silica-coated films. Technical specifications must address recyclability indicators (PET-
1, HDPE-2 resin codes) and food contact compliance (FDA 21 CFR standards). How can designers optimize material selection for sustainability? Material passports documenting chemical composition and disassembly protocols are becoming industry essentials.
Digital Design Material Specifications
UI/UX designers work with material system guidelines like Google's Material Design 3 specifications, which define elevation levels (dp units
), surface tints (hex color codes
), and typography scales (Roboto typeface variants). Asset creation requires understanding bitmap formats (PNG-24 with alpha channels) versus vector formats (SVG coordinate precision). Why do cross-platform designs need material adaptation? Screen density variations (mdpi, hdpi, xhdpi) and color gamut differences (sRGB vs DCI-P3) necessitate precise material parameter adjustments in digital interfaces.