shapeable

Shapeable is an adjective describing a material or object that can be formed, molded, or reshaped into a desired geometry with relative ease, without cracking or breaking. In materials science, shapeability is related to formability, ductility, and plasticity and is a key consideration in processing and manufacturing.

Shapeability is achieved through mechanisms such as heating a material to soften it, applying mechanical work to deform it plastically, or curing a binder so the material sets in a new shape. Thermoplastic polymers become shapeable when heated above their glass transition or melting temperature and can be reshaped multiple times. Metals can be shaped in hot-working or cold working processes; polymers and elastomeric materials may also be shaped at ambient temperature if they are malleable. Some materials are shapeable while liquid or semi-fluid, such as clays, waxes, and silicones, which flow under pressure and then retain a new form after setting.

Applications of shapeable materials include manufacturing of consumer goods, prototyping, casting and molding, dental and medical devices, electronics, and art. The concept also informs recyclable and reworkable materials, as shapeable components can be reshaped or repaired rather than discarded.

Important related terms include malleability, ductility, plasticity, and formability, which describe aspects of a material's response to shaping forces.