Better for what?
A material choice makes sense only in context. Explore the properties, design constraints and after-use questions that change the answer.
Moving heat into food
What makes a good pan?
Cast iron · Aluminium · Stainless steel
Containing a drinkGlass or PET for a bottle?
Soda-lime glass · PET
Carrying loads with less massThree ways to build a bicycle frame
Carbon steel · Aluminium · Carbon-fibre composite
Managing comfort and moistureCotton or polyester against the skin?
Cotton · Polyester fibre
Choosing a glass for its jobNot all transparent glass behaves alike
Soda-lime glass · Borosilicate glass · Aluminosilicate glass
Moving electricityCopper and aluminium as conductors
Copper · Aluminium
Making a resilient sealNatural rubber or silicone rubber for a seal?
Natural rubber · Silicone
Protecting a liquid in a cartonPaper, polyethylene and foil: why combine them?
Paper & paperboard · LDPE · Aluminium
Supporting a person, indoors or outWood or polypropylene for a chair?
Wood · Polypropylene
Understanding scratches and impactsHard is not the same as hard to break
Alumina · Polycarbonate · Aluminium
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Try a broader term or a different category.