diff --git a/MaterialLib/MPL/PropertyType.h b/MaterialLib/MPL/PropertyType.h
index 7caa86f50d8bbe7034fc87f808676691c58a2482..636b14b77c0b9c21599801851a612e92211a2b03 100644
--- a/MaterialLib/MPL/PropertyType.h
+++ b/MaterialLib/MPL/PropertyType.h
@@ -43,6 +43,8 @@ enum PropertyType : int
     critical_pressure,
     critical_temperature,
     compressibility,
+    /// used to specify decay rate of a substance.
+    decay_rate,
     density,
     drhodT,
     effective_stress,
@@ -123,6 +125,10 @@ inline PropertyType convertStringToProperty(std::string const& inString)
     {
         return PropertyType::compressibility;
     }
+    if (boost::iequals(inString, "decay_rate"))
+    {
+        return PropertyType::decay_rate;
+    }
     if (boost::iequals(inString, "density"))
     {
         return PropertyType::density;