What does malleability refer to?

Malleability specifically refers to the ability of a material, typically metals, to be deformed under compressive stress. This property allows metals to be shaped by processes such as rolling or hammering into thin sheets without breaking. Malleable materials can easily change shape when subjected to force, making them ideal for a variety of manufacturing processes. This characteristic is crucial in industries where creating metal sheets or intricate shapes is necessary.

Although other properties of materials are equally important—such as electrical conductivity, solubility in water, or brittleness—the specific ability to be bent or rolled into sheets defines malleability and is what makes it a key term in materials science and engineering.