Materials

Info courtesy of McMaster-Carr

Metals

• Aluminum - Aluminum alloys are strong, naturally soft, lightweight, ductile and malleable. They are easy to machine, fabricate, join and work. Aluminum is non-toxic and electrically and thermally conductive.
  
• Brass - Brass resists atmospheric corrosion, water, and many salt water solutions. A high percentage of zinc makes it stronger and more durable than copper and bronze. It is easy to manufacture and maintains higher electrical characteristics.
  
• Bronze - This copper and tin alloy is generally ductile and malleable. Its high copper content makes it more corrosion resistant than brass. It is also harder and stronger than copper.
  
• Cerro Alloys - Ideal for casting, these low melting-temperature alloys expand as they solidify, pushing into every crevice of the mold for superior duplication. Easy to machine and tool, they're also good for repairing broken dies and patterns. Includes ingots and wire.
  
• Copper - Copper is corrosion resistant and highly ductile. Great for electrical applications.
  
• Iron - Iron is soft, ductile and malleable. It is supplied oversize "as cast" to allow for final finishing to the sizes listed.
  
• Lead - Lead is easy to form, even to irregular surfaces. It functions well as a sound and vibration absorber and prevents corrosion when used as a lining. RULE ALERT: HAZARDOUS METALS SUCH AS LEAD CANNOT BE USED IN ANY BATTLEBOT
  
• Nickel - Nickel features outstanding oxidation and chemical resistance. Some nickel maintains exceptional strength at very high temperatures. Commonly used in chemical processing, marine components and heat exchangers. Includes several alloys, including Monel, Inconel, and Hastelloy (High-Temperature).
  
• Stainless Steel - Stainless steels are alloys of iron to which at least 10% chromium has been added to impart corrosion resistance. A 10% chromium steel will not rust when exposed to weather. To obtain greater corrosion resistance, more nickel and chromium are added to the alloy. Along with iron and chromium, all stainless steels contain some carbon. The carbon is added for the same purpose as in ordinary steels- to make steel stronger. Other alloying elements are added for improved corrosion resistance, fabricability and variations in strength. These elements include nickel, molybdenum, copper, titanium, silicone, aluminum, sulfur and many others.
  
• Steel - Steel is iron that has been combined with other elements such as carbon, manganese and silicon. It falls into one of two families: carbon steel or alloy steel. Carbon steels are basic steels which harden only with surface (case) treatments. Alloy steels contain added elements that cause the steel to exhibit enhanced properties when heat treated.
  
• Tin - Tin is inherently soft and is readily alloyed with lead, antimony, silver, copper and other metals to form solder and babbitt materials.
  
• Titanium - Very strong yet lightweight, titanium has excellent corrosion resistance and a melting point of 3000° F. Cut it with sharp tooling and ample cutting fluid at slow speeds and high feed rates.
  
• Tungsten Carbide - Tungsten has good hardness and provides strong abrasion resistance. Choose between two different grades of tungsten carbide, in either ball or rod form.
  

Plastics

• ABS - This tough and impact-resistant thermoplastic is used in electronic housings, auto parts, consumer products, pipe fittings, waste pipes, and automotive interior and exterior trim.
  

• Acetal - A good electrical insulator, Acetal is also wear, moisture and chemical resistant. Acetal's applications include pump and valve components, electrical components, gears and bearings. Includes Delrin, glass-filled Delrin and acetal copolymers.
  

• Acrylic - This clear material is used in displays, windows and outdoor signs. Includes extruded and cast acrylic.
  

• Cellulose - This transparent and weather resistant thermoplastic is used in box windows, printing, shipping tubes, laminations and pneumatic conveyors.
  

• Fiberglass - Fiberglass materials have excellent impact and tensile strength. Standard fiberglass is ideal for structural applications with weight restrictions. Electrical grade is excellent for insulating electrical applications.
  

• Fluoropolymers - These materials have good impact strength and are easy to machine. Most of the fluoropolymers can withstand high temperatures and have good chemical resistance. Some fluoropolymers, such as Teflon, are extremely slippery (friction resistant). Applications include glides, weatherstrips, gasketing, valves and liners. Materials include Teflon® (PTFE), ETFE (Tefzel), FEP, PFA, PVDF (Kynar), and CTFE.
  

• Garolite - This material is formed from fibers or glass fabrics woven in resins to form a laminate. These materials are generally excellent electrical insulators. Garolite also has good tensile and impact strength. Common applications for this material include electrical insulation, templates and tabletops.
  

• High Performance Plastics - These various high-end plastics can withstand extremely high temperatures. All high performance plastics have superior tensile strength and applications include aerospace, medical/surgical tools, chip nests, bushings and semiconductor processing fixtures. Includes polyphenylene oxide (modified Noryl®), polysulfone, PEEK, carbon-filled PEEK, glass-filled PEEK, polyetherimide (Ultem), polyimide, polyamide-imide (Torlon), glass-filled polyamide-imide (Torlon), polyimide (Vespel), and PBI (Celazole).
  

• Natural Hard Fiber - Natural hard fiber is an effective electrical insulator with excellent tensile strength. It has outstanding physical properties and can be steam softened for forming.
  

• Nylon - Ideal for applications such as bushings, pulleys, electrical housings, food applications and gears. Nylon has excellent strength and because of its slippery (friction resistant) qualities can be an economic alternative to UHMW in some applications.
  

• Polycarbonate - This material is optically clear and has high tensile strengths. Also features good to excellent impact resistance, unlike optically clear acrylic. Use in windows, machine guards, privacy and institutional glazing. Includes sheets, rods, discs, and film.
  

• Polyester - This strong material is a good electrical insulator. Optically clear PETG is commonly used as an economical alternative to polycarbonate. Common applications include food handling, printing equipment, displays, printing equipment, valves and indoor signs.
  

• Polyethylene - A flexible plastic used in environmental barriers, trays, vapor barriers, cutting boards, tote boxes, chain guides, among other applications. Includes LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene), HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene) and UHMW (Ultra-High Molecular Weight) polyethylene. UHMW is a slippery and impact resistant material that can be an economical alternative to Teflon.
  

• Polypropylene - This lightweight, nontoxic and scratch-resistant material works well for a variety of industrial applications. Features good electrical insulation and impact strength properties. Commonly used in tanks, ducts, exhaust systems, gaskets, sporting goods, pharmaceuticals, electronics, chemical and beverage processing.
  

• Polystyrene - Used in food containers, displays, and printing applications, polystyrene is dimensionally stable and impact resistant. Includes sheets and rods.
  

• PVC - This thermoplastic is corrosion, weather and impact resistant. Applications include pumps, hoods, valves, fittings, electrical boxes and filters. Includes Type I and Type II PVC, CPVC, expanded rigid PVC, and ABS/PVC.
  

McMaster-Carr