What is Impact Strength and Why is it Important?

Definition

Impact strength is a measure of a material’s ability to withstand sudden and forceful impacts without breaking or fracturing. It is typically quantified by the amount of energy absorbed by the material during impact testing, such as the Charpy or Izod impact tests. This property is crucial for materials used in applications where they may be subjected to dynamic or shock loads.

Explain Impact Strength like I’m 5

Imagine you have a toy made of different kinds of plastic. If you drop it or hit it with a hammer, some plastics will break easily while others will stay strong. Impact strength is a way to measure how tough the plastic is when you try to break it suddenly.

Why does this matter?

Impact strength is vital in additive manufacturing because it determines how well a 3D-printed part can handle real-world conditions where it might be dropped, hit, or subjected to other sudden forces. For industries like automotive, aerospace, and consumer products, having materials with high impact strength ensures that the parts will be durable and reliable in their end-use applications.

Real Talk

While impact strength is a critical property for many applications, it’s not the only factor to consider. High impact strength often comes at the expense of other properties like stiffness or heat resistance. Additionally, achieving high impact strength in 3D-printed parts can be challenging due to the layer-by-layer nature of the printing process, which can introduce weak points. It’s essential to balance impact strength with other material properties to meet the specific needs of your application. And remember, not all 3D printing materials are created equal—some are better suited for high-impact applications than others.