Young’s modulus

physical dimension: GPa

Young's Modulus and Atomic Bonds

• The spring model: Materials with crystalline structure can be modelled as regular lattice of atoms connected by springs that represent the bonding forces.
• The spring constant quantifies the resistance of the material against elastic deformation, the stiffness.
• The Young’s modulus E is the macroscopic parameter quantifying the stiffness.
• Young’s modulus E is known from Hooke’s law: Stress = E·strain.
• Young’s modulus represents the spring constant in macroscopic scale.

Young’s modulus: range of variation

• Defect-free bulk material: 2-5 GPa (polymers) ... 1150 GPa (diamond)
• Coatings: depending on the deposition conditions, variation up to about a magnitude for the same film material.
• Young’s modulus of the same basic material depends on alloying elements, impurities, porosity, lattice defects, crystallographic modification, bonding strength.

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