# When to use which material

Each material used in FRC has distinct mechanical and manufacturing properties that determine how it behaves under load, during machining, and in real-world robot use.

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</div>## 6061-T6 Aluminum

- High strength and stiffness
- Excellent machinability
- Holds tapped threads well
- Maintains shape under load with minimal flex
- Can be anodized for corrosion resistance

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</div>## 5052 Aluminum

- High ductility (bends without cracking easily)
- Lower strength than 6061-T6 in rigid structures
- Very good fatigue resistance in sheet form
- Poor thread-holding capability compared to 6061
- Excellent for forming and sheet fabrication

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</div>## Polycarbonate

- Extremely high impact resistance (does not shatter)
- Flexible and can bend significantly before failure
- Transparent, allowing visibility through panels
- Sensitive to heat during machining
- Crack-resistant compared to brittle plastics like acrylic

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</div>## SRPP (Glass-Filled Polypropylene)

- Lightweight with moderate stiffness
- High vibration damping compared to metals
- More rigid than standard plastics due to glass fill
- Low density relative to aluminum
- Good fatigue resistance in sheet applications

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</div>## Steel

- Very high strength and hardness
- Excellent wear resistance
- High density (heavy compared to aluminum)
- Maintains shape under extreme loads
- Can be heat-treated for increased hardness

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</div>## Plywood

- Cross-laminated structure resists splitting
- Good stiffness for its weight
- Anisotropic (strength depends on grain direction)
- Absorbs impact energy without immediate fracture
- Sensitive to moisture and environmental conditions

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</div>## Key Idea

Each material behaves differently under stress, machining, and impact. Understanding these unique properties allows FRC teams to choose the right material for strength, weight, flexibility, and durability requirements.