process material

A process material is a material that only develops its final material properties during production. In contrast, "normal" materials no longer change materially during production. They are only formed (e.g. forging, cutting, milling) or combined with other materials (e.g. painting, assembling, mixing).

Adhesives are typical process materials because they develop their mechanical strength only through a (physical or chemical) setting reaction during manufacture. Exceptions are the dry pressure-sensitive adhesives, which no longer have to set.