How does Young's modulus relate to the ductility of a material?

Young's modulus is inversely proportional to the ductility of a material.

Young's modulus is a measure of a material's stiffness or resistance to deformation under stress. It is defined as the ratio of stress to strain in the elastic region of a material's stress-strain curve. Ductility, on the other hand, is a measure of a material's ability to deform plastically before fracturing.

Materials with high Young's modulus values are generally stiff and brittle, meaning they are not very ductile. This is because they require a large amount of stress to cause deformation and are more likely to fracture than deform plastically. Examples of such materials include ceramics and some metals like tungsten and steel.

In contrast, materials with low Young's modulus values are generally more flexible and ductile. They require less stress to cause deformation and are more likely to deform plastically before fracturing. Examples of such materials include rubber, polymers, and some metals like copper and aluminium.

Therefore, the relationship between Young's modulus and ductility is inverse. The higher the Young's modulus, the lower the ductility, and vice versa. This relationship is important to consider when selecting materials for applications that require specific mechanical properties.