What does ductility mean for a material?

Ductility refers to a material's ability to undergo significant plastic deformation before rupture or fracture. This characteristic is exemplified by the material's capacity to be drawn or extruded into wire, which is a practical application of ductility. When a material is ductile, it can be stretched or shaped under tensile stress without breaking, making it especially useful in various engineering applications.

In contrast, other characteristics like resisting cracking or being able to withstand compressive forces speak to different material properties such as toughness or compressive strength, respectively. Reflecting light effectively pertains to optical properties rather than structural or mechanical behavior. Therefore, the quality of ductility is particularly associated with a material’s capability for deformation, with wire drawing being a classic illustration of this property in action.