materialkatalog

Materialkatalog is a structured collection of information about materials used in design, engineering, and manufacturing. In practice it can be a physical reference or, more commonly, a digital database or online platform that catalogs materials such as metals, polymers, ceramics, composites, and textiles. Each entry typically includes the material name, supplier or manufacturer, grade or specification, and key properties such as density, tensile strength, elasticity, thermal conductivity, electrical properties, chemical resistance, and recommended processing routes. It may also provide standards, test methods, safety data sheets, cost, availability, and environmental or regulatory information.

The primary purpose of a materialkatalog is to aid material selection, comparison, and sourcing during product development and procurement. Many organizations maintain internal catalogs integrated with computer-aided design (CAD), product lifecycle management (PLM), and purchasing systems, enabling engineers to filter by properties, compare options, and document compliance. External catalogs from suppliers or industry bodies offer searchable interfaces and downloadable data sheets.

Data quality and provenance are important considerations in a materialkatalog. Good catalogs include versioning, revision histories, source references, and notes on test conditions. Catalogs can be domain-specific, focusing on a material class such as metals or polymers, or broad-based across multiple classes. Emerging trends include standardized property schemas, interoperability with digital twins, and integration of sustainability data to support life cycle assessment and substitution decisions.