Use the nodes under Materials () to add predefined or user-defined materials, to specify material properties using model inputs, functions, values, and expressions as needed, or to create a custom material library. Also see Material Link, Switch for Materials, Working with External Materials, and About the Material Databases.

The Material column lists the current materials in the Component using the materials’ node labels from the model tree according to the settings defined in Displaying Node Names, Tags, and Types in the Model Builder.

The Selection column lists the geometric entities selected for the material (the domains, boundaries, or edges where the material is defined).

If a material property in a physics interface takes its value from a material and no material is defined for the same geometric selection, a stop sign () displays in the leftmost column and the Material column contains Entities needing a material. The Selection column contains the geometric entities in which a material definition is missing. The Materials node also indicates when there is a material error (see Figure 9-5). For example, if some property is deleted but needed in a part of the geometry, then the icon indicates where the error is located.