About the Material Databases

All COMSOL Multiphysics modules have predefined material data available in collections of materials — material databases — to build models. The most extensive material data is contained in the separately purchased Material Library, but all modules contain commonly used or module-specific collections of materials. For example, the Built-In database is available to all users but the MEMS database is included with the MEMS Module and Structural Mechanics Module. You can also create custom materials and material libraries by researching and entering material properties.

The window provides access to all material databases (including the Material Library). The following material databases are available in the Material Browser (some require additional module licenses):

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Recent Materials: From the folder (

), select from a list of recently used materials with the most recent at the top. This folder is available after the first time a material is added to a Component node.

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Material Library. An optional add-on database, the , contains data for over 2500 materials and 20,000 property functions.

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Built-In. Included with COMSOL Multiphysics, the database contains common solid materials with electrical, structural, and thermal properties.

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AC/DC. Included in the AC/DC Module, the database has electric properties for some magnetic and conductive materials.

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Batteries and Fuel Cells. Included in the Batteries & Fuel Cells Module, the database includes properties for electrolytes and electrode reactions for certain battery chemistries.

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Bioheat: Included in the Heat Transfer Module, the database includes properties for several biological tissues such as bone, fat, human and porcine liver, lung, muscle, myocardium, prostate, and skin.

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Building: Included in the Heat Transfer Module, the database includes hygroscopic and thermal properties for several materials used for structure, sheathing, thermal isolation, and vapor barrier in buildings.

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Liquids and Gases: Included in the Acoustics Module, CFD Module, Chemical Reaction Engineering Module, Heat Transfer Module, MEMS Module, Pipe Flow Module, and Subsurface Flow Module, the database includes transport properties and surface tension data for liquid/gas and liquid/liquid interfaces.

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MEMS: Included in the MEMS Module and Structural Mechanics Module, the database has properties for MEMS materials: metals, semiconductors, insulators, and polymers.

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Nonlinear Magnetic: Included in the AC/DC Module, the database has properties, such as nonlinear magnetization curves, for a large set of ferromagnetic alloys like various types of steel.

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Optical: Included with the Ray Optics Module and Wave Optics Module, the database contains frequency-dependent refractive index properties for organic and inorganic materials, glasses, and other materials such as semiconductors.

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Piezoelectric: Included in the Acoustics Module, MEMS Module, and Structural Mechanics Module, the database has properties for piezoelectric materials.

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Piezoresistivity: Included in the MEMS Module, the database has properties for piezoresistive materials, including p-type and n-type silicon materials.

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Semiconductors: Included in the Semiconductor Module, the Semiconductors database contains silicon, germanium, gallium arsenide, AlxGa1-xAs, gallium nitride (wurtzite and zincblende structures), gallium phosphide, gallium antimonide, indium arsenide, indium phosphide, and indium antimonide materials for use with this module.

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Thermoelectric: Included with the Heat Transfer Module and contains bismuth telluride and lead telluride materials for use with the Thermoelectric Effect interface.

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User-Defined Library: The folder (

) is where user-defined material databases (libraries) are created. When you have created a new database, it also displays in the .