Property Search Technique

This page will help users to utilize the full power of the MatWeb Property Search Page.

More options are available to users who register with us.

Optionally select a search category of materials such as "Ceramics" and up to three material properties (with ranges) and MatWeb will identify materials from the specific category that meet the criteria.

As an example, you have an application that requires a fluoropolymer or acetal that has a density between 1.5 and 2.0 g/cc, AND a Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (at 20°C) between 80 and 100 µm/m-°C, AND a Melting Point below 250°Celsius.  This search has been typed for you below in the copy of our Search Page, with the radio button selected to match ALL material property ranges (a logical "AND").  To see the results of this search, click the image.

If you are searching for materials that meet your property specification(s), and a material in MatWeb does not have that data point available, then that material is not returned from the search.  Click here for more details on data availability..

Property Search Tips

The following advanced tips will help you to take full advantage of our property-based search page.

1.  "Property Groups" 

One recurring problem in searching for materials based on property data is that the same intrinsic property can be measured by many different tests.  For example, MatWeb tracks many different measures of service temperature, each with a subtle difference, but any may suffice for the early stages of the material selection process. We have solved this problem by implementing 'Property Groups' that let you search for a match in any of the related properties. So for the service temperature example, you could select SERVICE TEMPERATURE [PROPERTY GROUP] from the drop down list, as you would select any other property. This will simultaneously search such specific properties as Deflection Temperaure (66 or 264 psi loads), Continuous Service Temperature, UL RTI's, Vicat Softening Point, etc. The test details are found on the data sheets.

Other Property Groups currently used include Water Absorbtion, Modulus, Strength, and Elongation. Our registered users can also use the Property Groups feature on the Advanced Search page, and can see the list of specific properties contained in each group.

2.  Screening materials for properties - When you perform a property search on MatWeb, a results page is returned with material names and property values (for up to three properties).  You can use these results pages as effective screening tools by using a very broad range for the property min/max on your search.

From this point, you can go back and input more restrictive search criteria (by tightening the ranges or requiring all the property criteria to be matched) or follow the links directly to the material data sheet for more information.

3.  Unavailable data points - If you are searching for materials that meet your property specification(s), and a material in MatWeb does not have that data point available, then that material is not returned from the search. One way to deal with this is to make your search less restrictive. Click here for more details.

4.  Hardness Scales - The technical staff at MatWeb converts hardness values among the somewhat comparable scales for metals to facilitate your searches.  Since these conversions are empirical, we note converted data in the data sheet comments.  Not every scale or test is comparable to another, so it's good practice to familiarize yourself with different methods.  We do not attempt conversions between the polymer hardness scales.

Click here for help with the folders used for comparisons and exports.