material is the substance or matter from which something is or can be made, or also items needed for doing or creating something.

material is sometimes used when referring to cloth or fabric.

materials are inputs to production or manufacturing. They are often raw - that is unprocessed, but are sometimes processed before being used in more advanced production processes. In general, in technologically advanced societies, the materials are not finished consumer goods.

Some important materials

• Metals
  • Steel
  • Aluminum
  • Copper
• Polymers
  • rubber
  • plastic
• Ceramics
• Glass
• Portland cement
• stone
• Textiles
  • Cotton fabric
  • Wool fabric
• bio-based materials
  • leather
  • bone
  • paper
  • lumber/wood
• Biomaterials
• Composites
  • Fiberglass
  • Concrete

See also

• technology
• history of science and technology
• post-industrial society
• commodity
• Materiel

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