Ductility vs Malleability
Ductility and Malleability are two physical properties of metals. These two terms are often used in the Chemistry of metals and substances. Both these properties show some difference between them.
Ductility is the property of a metal that is capable of being hammered out thin. Such metals that are capable of being hammered out thin are called as ductile metals. Such metals are also capable of being drawn out into wire or threads. Gold can be cited as an example of ductile metals.
In short it can be said that ductility consists in the property of undergoing change of form without breaking. It is the quality of being molded or shaped like plastic. The words ‘ductilely’ and ‘ductile’ are used as adverb and adjective respectively.
On the other hand the property of malleability is the quality of being extended or shaped by pressure from rollers. This is the main difference between the two words ductility and malleability. It is interesting to note that the word ‘malleability’ is used in the sense of ‘adaptable’ or ‘tractable’.
As far as vocabulary is concerned it is interesting to know that the word ‘malleable’ is synonymous with the words such as impressionable, flexible, pliable and moldable and antonymous with words such as refractory and intractable. The word ‘malleability’ is used in other forms like ‘malleably’ as an adverb and ‘malleable’ as an adjective.
The word ‘malleable’ is said to have originated from the Latin word ‘malleare’ which means ‘to beat with hammer’. On the other hand the word ‘ductile’ is said to have originated form the Latin word ‘ductilis’ which means ‘that may be led or drawn’. Some lexicographers are of the opinion that there is not much of a difference between the two words malleability and ductility for that matter.
Related posts:
