Wanted materials
65 materials we want to add next, by category. Each becomes a profile only when its numbers are sourced.
Polymers
- PEEKfirst pick
A high-performance thermoplastic used for structural and insulating parts.
- Kapton (polyimide)
The film used in thermal blankets and flexible circuits.
- PTFE (Teflon)
A low-friction, chemically inert fluoropolymer.
- PEI (Ultem)
A heat-resistant amorphous thermoplastic.
- Nylon 6 and 66
Common engineering polyamides.
Metals and alloys
- Aluminium 6061first pick
The most widely used structural aluminium alloy.
- Ti-6Al-4V
The standard high-strength titanium alloy.
- Stainless steel 316L
A corrosion-resistant austenitic steel.
- Inconel 718
A nickel superalloy for high temperature.
- Copper
The standard electrical and thermal conductor.
Ceramics
- Aluminafirst pick
Aluminium oxide, the most common technical ceramic.
- Silicon carbide
A very hard ceramic with high thermal conductivity.
- Silicon nitride
A tough ceramic used in bearings and turbines.
- Zirconia
A tough ceramic used in coatings and structural parts.
- Boron nitride
A thermally conductive electrical insulator.
Glasses and optics
- Fused silicafirst pick
A pure glass used for windows and optics.
- Borosilicate glass (Pyrex)
A glass with low thermal expansion.
- Sapphire
Single-crystal aluminium oxide for hard windows.
- Zerodur
A glass-ceramic with near-zero thermal expansion.
Carbon materials
- Graphenefirst pick
A single layer of carbon atoms.
- Carbon fiber
The reinforcing fiber behind composite structures.
- Carbon nanotubes
Rolled graphene tubes with high strength and conductivity.
- Diamond
The hardest carbon form, with the highest thermal conductivity.
Composites
- Carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP)first pick
The standard lightweight structural composite.
- Fiberglass (GFRP)
Glass-fiber reinforced polymer.
- Kevlar-epoxy
An aramid-fiber composite used for impact resistance.
Semiconductors
- Siliconfirst pick
The base material of most electronics and solar cells.
- Gallium arsenide
A semiconductor used in high-efficiency space solar cells.
- Gallium nitride
A wide-bandgap semiconductor for power and radio devices.
- Silicon carbide
A wide-bandgap semiconductor for high power and temperature.
- Perovskite
An emerging solar-cell absorber.
Coatings and surfaces
- Anodized aluminiumfirst pick
Aluminium with a hard oxide surface layer.
- Gold plating
A corrosion-free conductive finish.
- Indium tin oxide (ITO)
A transparent conductive coating.
- Black coatings
Coatings used for stray-light control and thermal emission.
Thermal protection
- PICAfirst pick
A lightweight ablative heat-shield material.
- Space shuttle silica tile
The reusable insulation tile of the shuttle orbiter.
- Reinforced carbon-carbon
The high-temperature nose and wing-edge material of the shuttle.
- Aerogel
An ultralight insulating solid.
Lubricants and tribology
- Molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂)first pick
A dry lubricant used in vacuum.
- PFPE (Krytox)
A vacuum-compatible fluorinated oil.
- Diamond-like carbon (DLC)
A hard, low-friction coating.
Seals and adhesives
- Silicone RTVfirst pick
A room-temperature-curing silicone sealant and adhesive.
- Viton (FKM)
A fluoroelastomer used for seals.
- Epoxy
A structural adhesive and matrix resin.
Energy materials
- Sodium-ion battery materialsfirst pick
Lithium-free cells built from abundant elements.
- Silicon anode
A high-capacity alternative to graphite.
- Solid electrolyte (LLZO)
A ceramic lithium conductor for solid-state cells.
- Perovskite solar absorber
An emerging photovoltaic material.
Electronics materials
- FR-4first pick
The standard glass-epoxy circuit-board laminate.
- SAC305 solder
A lead-free tin-silver-copper solder.
- Barium titanate
The ceramic dielectric in many capacitors.
Shielding
- Polyethylene (HDPE)first pick
A hydrogen-rich plastic studied for radiation shielding.
- Tungsten
A dense metal for gamma and X-ray shielding.
- Boron carbide
A neutron-absorbing ceramic.
- Lead
The traditional dense gamma shield.
Regolith and in-situ
- Lunar regolith simulantfirst pick
The test dust used in place of real lunar soil.
- Basalt
A volcanic rock studied for construction and fibers.
- Ilmenite
An iron-titanium oxide studied for oxygen extraction.
Fabrics and textiles
- Nomexfirst pick
A flame-resistant aramid fabric.
- Kevlar
A high-strength aramid fiber.
- Beta cloth
The glass-fiber outer fabric of spacesuits.
- UHMWPE (Dyneema, Spectra)
An ultra-strong polyethylene fiber.
Living materials
- Mycelium compositesfirst pick
Fungal-grown structural and insulating material.
- Cyanobacteria
Microbes studied for oxygen and material production.
No material matches that search.
How every material page is built
Each profile follows the same eight parts, in this order, so any reader can find the same thing in the same place. The story comes first and the technical detail comes last.
- Why it existsWhat the material is, how it is built, and why anyone chooses it. Written like a textbook paragraph, with terms linked to the glossary.
- Where it is usedReal applications, each with its source. Ground tests and flight uses are labelled as such.
- RecipeThe formula or composition, with the amount and the role of each ingredient. Shown only when the composition is fixed.
- What it can doThe five numbers that matter most, each with the conditions it was measured under.
- How it comparesThe same measurements for similar materials in one table, so the trade-offs are visible.
- Risks and side effectsHazards to people, what happens when the material fails, and how it is handled and stored.
- Technical detailsEvery benchmark with its method and conditions, numbered notes, corrosion and compatibility, supply and geography, and the gallery.
- SourcesEvery reference, with the place in it where each number comes from. Nothing on the page is unsourced.
Every number carries its source, the place in that source, the conditions it was measured under and its method. Where something is unknown, the page leaves it out and says nothing about it.
These are suggestions, not measured data. If a material you need is missing from the list, add it anyway.