A Cambridge startup is betting on plastic crystals to transform refrigeration by replacing gases with solid materials that change temperature under pressure, in a technology still under development and initially aimed at commercial systems. A startup affiliated with the University of Cambridge is working on a refrigeration technology that exchanges gases for solid materials capable […]
It’s been a long time since I took material science, but if memory serves, the terms “plastic deformation” and “elastic deformation” are applicable to any number of materials. Metal alloys have a range of “elastic deformation” as well as “plastic deformation”. Plastics and elastics also have those ranges. It’s unintuitive in everyday parlance, but it wouldn’t be inaccurate in the mechanical sense to say “this plastic is elastic” because plastics do have ranges where their deformations are defined as elastic.
I had to study properties of metal for an engineering class. There was no elastic deformation that I remember, unless you pass the materials elastic limit. Important concepts to be clear about. You don’t want something plastic if you need elastic.
The way I recall it being taught was that “elastic deformation” was deformation that didn’t compromise the integrity of the original shape of the object (typically a rigid body in most of my textbook’s examples, which could be where our understandings are deviating).
One example my professor used to illustrate the concept in-person was with a paper clip. Bending one end the paper clip ever so slightly (such that it springs back into its original shape when you let go) was “elastic deformation” of the material. Bending the end of the paper clip enough such that it can’t return to its original shape afterward was “plastic deformation”.
And plastic deformation can’t be reversed, its a one-shot deal, when its bent its bent. Loses integrity as well when its deformed.