EVERYDAY MATERIALSAtlas
Material behaviour

Hardness & wear

Resist a mark at the surface.

What it means

Hardness measures resistance to local indentation or scratching using a specified method. It is different from toughness, which concerns resistance to fracture and energy absorption. Wear also depends on contact, lubrication and debris. Hard ceramics can resist abrasion while remaining vulnerable to impact and flaws.

Look for it in everyday life.

A transparent polycarbonate part may resist impact but need a coating to resist scratching.

Meet it in a material.

Carbon steel

Strength built from chemistry and structure.

Metals

Cast iron

A heavy pan with a cast-in shape.

Metals

Cobalt

Different chemistry, different job.

Elements & minerals

Silicon

The carefully controlled crystal inside electronics.

Elements & minerals

Neodymium

A small magnet can do a large job.

Elements & minerals

Soda-lime glass

The familiar glass of bottles and windows.

Glass & ceramics

Aluminosilicate glass

A carefully engineered surface for a pocket-sized screen.

Glass & ceramics

Porcelain

Soft clay becomes a hard, dense vessel.

Glass & ceramics

Alumina

An electrical insulator that can also carry heat.

Glass & ceramics

Calcium carbonate

A mineral that becomes a filler, pigment or gentle abrasive.

Elements & minerals

Silica

The same chemistry can have different structures.

Elements & minerals

Polyurethane

The chemistry behind both cushioning and tough surfaces.

Polymers

Stoneware

Clay made dense enough for everyday ware.

Glass & ceramics

Follow the evidence

Original explanations informed by the sources below. Technical and industry sources support material behaviour; industry environmental marketing is not treated as a universal comparison. Read our editorial method.