Materialcatalog

Materialcatalog is a term used to describe a digital catalog or database that aggregates data about materials for engineering, design, and research. It provides a centralized source of material options, properties, and performance data to support material selection, simulation, and procurement. Material catalogs may be standalone or integrated into product data management systems, enterprise resource planning tools, or supplier portals, with an emphasis on data provenance and version control.

Typical content includes material identifiers (name, class, grade, supplier), composition and microstructure, processing history, and a range of property data. Mechanical properties such as elastic modulus, yield strength, tensile strength, and ductility; thermal properties including conductivity, specific heat, and thermal expansion; physical properties like density and melting point; and electrical, magnetic, and optical properties when relevant. Environmental and corrosion resistance data, service temperatures, and data quality indicators (method, source, uncertainty) are also common.

Material catalogs are organized by class (metals, polymers, ceramics, composites, natural materials) and support advanced search features such as property ranges, material similarity, and compatibility with processing methods. Metadata describes data quality and provenance. Access methods typically include web interfaces, application programming interfaces, and plug-ins for computer-aided design or simulation tools. Interoperability with other data systems is often achieved through standardized schemas and controlled vocabularies.

Interoperability and standards are important, with MatML and similar schemas used to facilitate data exchange between design, analysis, and procurement tools. Governing rules cover licensing, attribution, and data stewardship as well as versioning and traceability of data sources.

Challenges include incomplete data, inconsistent test methods, unit conversions, and variability between sources. Ongoing curation, clear provenance, and robust validation are essential. The trend toward AI-assisted material discovery and tighter integration with design workflows is expected to expand the role of material catalogs in engineering practice.