What term describes the property of certain materials that become temporarily liquid when shaken or stirred?

The property described in the question is known as thixotropy. Thixotropic materials exhibit a unique behavior where they become less viscous – meaning they flow more easily – when subjected to mechanical stress, such as shaking or stirring, but regain their thicker, more solid-like state when the stress is removed. This property is important in various applications, especially in cosmetics and skincare, where certain products need to flow easily for application but maintain stability when at rest.

Viscosity refers simply to the resistance of a liquid to flow and does not encompass the time-dependent aspect found in thixotropic materials. Plasticity describes the ability of a material to undergo permanent deformation without breaking, which does not relate to the temporary changes in state that characterize thixotropic behavior. Flowability is a general term that refers to how easily a material flows, but it lacks the specific characteristics associated with thixotropic substances, particularly the reversibility of their change in consistency through applied stress.