Which term describes a material that can crumble easily and release fibers?

Which term describes a material that can crumble easily and release fibers?

• A. Brittle
• B. Friable
• C. Durable
• D. Elastic

Answer: (B)

The concept here is friability—the tendency of a material to crumble into powder or small pieces and to release fibers when disturbed. That combination—easily crumbling and fiber release—is exactly what friable materials exhibit, which is why this term is used in safety contexts to describe substances that can spread fibers when touched, cut, or damaged. Brittle describes a material that tends to break or shatter with little to no plastic deformation, but it doesn’t inherently imply crumbling into fibers. Durable means resistant to wear and damage, and elastic means it can stretch or deform and return to its original shape. These do not capture the specific behavior of crumbling and releasing fibers, which is the hallmark of friability.

The concept here is friability—the tendency of a material to crumble into powder or small pieces and to release fibers when disturbed. That combination—easily crumbling and fiber release—is exactly what friable materials exhibit, which is why this term is used in safety contexts to describe substances that can spread fibers when touched, cut, or damaged.

Brittle describes a material that tends to break or shatter with little to no plastic deformation, but it doesn’t inherently imply crumbling into fibers. Durable means resistant to wear and damage, and elastic means it can stretch or deform and return to its original shape. These do not capture the specific behavior of crumbling and releasing fibers, which is the hallmark of friability.