Abstract
THE word 'plasticity' although one which has attained a state almost of ubiquity in several branches of applied physics and industrial chemistry, has, according to Scott Blair1, never been given a quantitative and dimensional definition. In the technical literature a group of quantitative 'plasticity numbers' have taken their place. Such expressions as the Williams plasticity number, or the Goodrich plasticity number (both used in rubber technology), have no quantitative meaning other than that of the reading of a particular type of testing equipment when used in a particular manner, and as such cannot be expressed in C.G.S. units.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on SpringerLink
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Scott Blair, G. W., "A Survey of General and Applied Rheology" (London: Pitman, 1944).
Wilson, H., "Ceramics, Clay Technology" (New York: McGraw-Hill, 1927), 55.
Andrade, E. N. da C., and Chambers, B., Proc. Roy. Soc., A, 138, 348 (1932).
Reiner, M., J. Sci. Instruments, 22, 127 (1945).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
BOSWORTH, R. A Definition of Plasticity. Nature 157, 447 (1946). https://doi.org/10.1038/157447a0
Issue date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/157447a0
