a critical material

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a critical material" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a material that is essential or of great importance in a particular context, such as in manufacturing, construction, or research. Example: "In the production of batteries, lithium is considered a critical material due to its unique properties and high demand."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Steel is a critical material to any modern economy.

Carbon Balance and Management

The fracture toughness is a critical material property that determines engineering performance.

Acta Materialia

Cement is a critical material for urbanization, but its energy-intensive production creates serious potential environmental impacts.

Applied Energy

In both cases, it is found that uniform elongation levels are limited by a critical material strength.

Journal of Nuclear Materials

Local filtration properties were used to find a critical material dependent Reynolds number indicating a flow stabilisation behaviour.

Chemical Engineering Science

Tests of the sensor in air and liquid environments show promising results as well as the limitations of SU-8 as a critical material in microdevices.

Sensors and Actuators A: Physical

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

The US government even designated germanium as a strategic and critical material, calling for a 146 ton (132 t) supply in the national defense stockpile in 1987.

Wikipedia

In order to design a robust drug product and achieve the desired target product profile, it is important to have a good understanding of the critical material attributes (CMAs) and critical process parameters (CPPs) of the process and how these CMAs and CPPs are related to the drug product's critical quality attributes.

Developing Solid Oral Dosage Forms Pharmaceutical Theory and Practice

For mature fields, such as total joint replacements and fracture fixation implants, radiolucency is an attractive but not necessarily critical material feature.

Biomaterials

Petroleum is a critical raw material in making floor coverings.

Forbes

With the entry of the United States into World War II, nickel became a critical war material, and the Mint sought to reduce its use of the metal.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a material as "a critical material", specify the context in which it holds significance to provide clarity and impact.

Common error

Avoid using "a critical material" without specifying why the material is critical. This weakens the statement. Instead, clearly state the material's importance in a specific process, application, or field.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a critical material" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective 'critical' modifies the noun 'material'. Ludwig's examples demonstrate it highlighting essential or vital nature of a substance in a given context.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

75%

News & Media

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a critical material" is grammatically sound and useful for emphasizing the importance of a substance in various contexts. While relatively uncommon, its usage is appropriate in both scientific and news-related contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. When using this phrase, it is important to specify the context in which the material is critical to enhance clarity. Alternatives include "an essential substance" or "a vital component", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

An essential substance

Replaces "critical" with "essential", emphasizing necessity.

A crucial component

Similar to 'vital component', but uses "crucial" to denote importance.

A vital component

Substitutes "material" with "component", focusing on its role in a system.

A key element

Emphasizes the fundamental role of the material.

A necessary resource

Highlights the required nature of the material.

An indispensable item

Focuses on the irreplaceability of the material.

An integral element

Highlights that the material is an inseparable part of a system.

A strategic resource

Highlights the strategic relevance of the material, particularly in economic or political contexts.

A fundamental ingredient

Emphasizes the material's role as a building block.

A core substance

Highlights the central importance of the material.

FAQs

How can I use "a critical material" in a sentence?

Use "a critical material" to emphasize the importance of a substance in a particular process or application. For example: "Steel is "a critical material" in construction".

What are some alternatives to saying "a critical material"?

You can use alternatives such as "an essential substance", "a vital component", or "a key element" depending on the context.

What makes a material "critical"?

A material is considered "critical" when it is essential for a particular application, process, or industry, and its availability may be limited or subject to supply chain risks.

Is it redundant to say "a critical raw material"?

While "a critical raw material" might seem redundant, it emphasizes that the material is not only important but also in its unprocessed, natural state, making it essential for manufacturing or production.