Ductility
A material's mechanical capability to undergo significant plastic strain deformation under tensile stress before fracturing.
Governing formula
% Elongation = ((L_break - L₀) / L₀) × 100%
SI unit
% (Percent Elongation or Area Reduction)
In depth
Ductility measures how far a material stretches before breaking. Ductile metals experience dislocation motion along crystal slip planes, whereas brittle materials fracture abruptly with negligible plastic deformation.
Examples in the real world
Gold and copper drawn into extremely fine electrical wire strands without breaking.