Application role in material selection
Application role in material selection
The material selection process provided insights into participants' approaches, highlighting the interplay between their practices and their interaction with the tool. Participants consistently emphasized the importance of application as the starting point for material selection.
Application-driven approach
Design and engineering practitioners use an application-driven approach to material selection, which aligns with their reliance on material properties, such as stiffness or strength, and technical benefits as crucial decision-making factors. The most used tool sections were material properties, applications, and technical benefits aligning with the application-driven approach. For instance, during the focus group sessions, the material choices changed depending on the application requested in each material task activity, from conventional materials to commercially available bio-based alternatives. The aspects that helped those changes towards renewable materials were the insights provided into materials already adopted in commercial products, reassuring the participants of feasibility and performance. It was easier to choose renewable materials when more data was available.
Showcasing renewable materials' compatibility with conventional manufacturing processes, such as extrusion and injection molding, reassures users of their practicality. Bullet points summarizing applications and examples could improve clarity and distinction from descriptive sections. Grounding the applications in tangible, relatable examples, supported by visuals and evidence of market adoption, will encourage trust and adoption.