ommeltavat

Ommeltavat is a term used in Finnish-language materials science and related fields to describe substances and materials capable of melting, that is, undergoing a solid-to-liquid phase transition when heated. The term is not restricted to a single material class; it applies to metals, polymers, waxes, salts, and certain composites that possess a defined melting point. In most contexts, ommeltavat is contrasted with non-meltable substances such as ceramics or refractory materials that do not melt under practical operating conditions.

Melting properties are defined by a melting point and, for many substances, an associated enthalpy of fusion. Melting points vary widely: low-melting materials include paraffin waxes (tens of degrees Celsius) and some salts, while metals melt at hundreds to thousands of degrees Celsius. The energy required to melt a substance is measured as ΔH_fus, often determined with differential scanning calorimetry or DSC.

Understanding ommeltavat materials is essential in manufacturing and recycling. They are processed by casting, extrusion, soldering, brazing, or additive manufacturing, depending on their viscosity when molten and their solid-state properties. Thermoplastics are especially common examples in which melting enables reshaping and recycling.

Terminology notes: while ommeltavat appears in some Finnish texts, the more general Finnish term for meltable materials is sulavat aineet. The usage of ommeltavat can vary by discipline and translation.

See also: Melting point, Enthalpy of fusion, Phase diagram, Thermoplastic, Casting.