Vormivaks

Vormivaks is a term used in Estonian-language texts to describe the formability of a material—the ability to be shaped into a different geometry through forming processes without fracturing. It applies across metals, polymers, and ceramics, though the degree of formability varies greatly between materials and depends on temperature, thickness, and processing conditions.

Key factors influencing vormivaks include ductility, strain hardening, grain structure, temperature, strain rate, lubrication, and thickness. Materials with high vormivaks can undergo substantial plastic deformation with lower risk of cracking, while those with low vormivaks require more force or alternative forming routes.

Measurement and evaluation of formability are typically material- and process-specific. In sheet metal forming, formability is commonly assessed using forming limit diagrams and cup tests (such as the Erichsen test). For polymers, formability relates to melt flow and processability; for ceramics, formability depends on avoiding defects and may involve specialized forming and subsequent sintering.

Applications of formable materials include automotive body panels, consumer plastic components, packaging, and a wide range of molded or stamped parts. Designers and engineers use the concept of vormivaks to select suitable forming methods, determine process parameters, and anticipate potential defects like wrinkling, tearing, thinning, or springback.

Etymology and usage: Vormivaks derives from vorm (shape) and the Estonian suffix -vaks, indicating an attribute. In English-language contexts, the concept is often translated as formability or formability potential, aligning with the broader engineering vocabulary.