There are four typical material groups that have aerospace applications:

• Metals, typically mined as ore and then melted to create semi-finished products which can be worked into finished products. Key aerospace metals are aluminum, titanium and high-temperature steel.
• Polymers, although not used as a primary material, it is often used as matrix material for composites. There are three main groups of polymers: thermoplastics, thermosets, and elastomers.
• Ceramics, brittle materials that are very hard, have good heat resistant properties, and are used as protection against heat. They are often used as cutting tools and protective equipment.
• Composites, can be divided into two types: fiber-reinforced composites, a combination of fibers and a matrix material; and hybrid materials, a combination of the former with a third component, such as metal for instance.