Materials Supply Built Around How Research Actually Works

Academic research doesn't follow production timelines or minimum order requirements. Experiments need specific materials in precise grades, exact dimensions, and often very small quantities — sometimes at short notice.

Goodfellow has supplied more than 1,000 research institutions worldwide with high-purity metals, alloys, ceramics, polymers, and composites for over 75 years. Our catalog of 170,000+ specialty materials covers everything from standard stock to rare and exotic elements, with no minimum order and expert technical support available when material selection requires it.

Advanced Materials To Support Academic Innovations & Research Projects | GoodfellowAdvanced Materials To Support Academic Innovations & Research Projects | Goodfellow
75+
Years of facilitating scientific innovation
170K
Huge range of advanced materials
111+
Countries served globally
ISO 9001
Quality assured products

75+

Years of facilitating scientific innovation
 

170K

Huge range of advanced materials

111

Countries served globally

ISO9001

Quality assured products

Selecting the Right Advanced Materials for Academic Innovations & Research Projects | GoodfellowSelecting the Right Advanced Materials for Academic Innovations & Research Projects | Goodfellow

Selecting the Right Materials for Your Research

Material requirements vary significantly across disciplines — what works for a condensed matter physics experiment will differ entirely from what a biomedical engineering team or a structural composites researcher needs. Goodfellow supplies across the full spectrum of material classes to meet those varied demands.

Metals, alloys, and nanomaterials — including nanoparticles and nanowires — are widely used in fundamental research across physics, chemistry, and materials science, where precise elemental composition and purity are critical to reproducible results.

Ceramics are specified for high-temperature, high-performance applications and increasingly for advanced characterization studies where new processing techniques demand new material benchmarks. 

Polymers and composites offer the flexibility, low weight, and tuneable mechanical properties required for both conventional research applications and the growing field of sustainable materials development.

A Supply Partner That Works at Research Scale

Research programmes rarely have predictable material requirements. Whether you need a single sample for an exploratory experiment, small batches for iterative development, or larger quantities for prototype validation, Goodfellow supplies at the scale your work demands — with no minimum order and dispatch within 48 hours.

When standard stock doesn't meet your specification, our Technical Solutions team draws on over 75 years of experience working with academic and industrial collaborators to source, customize, and deliver materials to exact purity, dimensional, and preparation requirements. From rare earth elements to custom alloy compositions, we have the expertise and supply network to find solutions to materials challenges that fall outside conventional catalogues.

Partner for Advanced Materials & Technical Solutions for Academic Innovations & Research Projects | GoodfellowPartner for Advanced Materials & Technical Solutions for Academic Innovations & Research Projects | Goodfellow
Metal Micromachining | GoodfellowMetal Micromachining | Goodfellow

Microfabrication and Materials Testing for Academic Research

Sourcing materials is only part of what research programmes require. Academic researchers developing micro-devices, MEMS structures, or microfluidic platforms can access low-minimum-order microfabrication through our Goodfellow microfabrication division.

Accredited materials testing to support research publications and grant deliverables — including mechanical, chemical, and microstructural analysis — is available through our ISO/IEC 17025-accredited specialist materials testing laboratory.

Popular Academic Research Materials

Why Goodfellow?

  • No minimum order
  • Over 170,000 advanced materials and 5,000 reference materials
  • Supply Chain Management:
    sourcing custom materials for your needs
  • Materials customization:
    Custom parts for prototyping | Full product modification | Micro-machining | Microfabrication | Rolling
  • Free and fast delivery:
    Worldwide shipping and customs clearance, to your door. All orders are dispatched within 48 hours
  • Commercial arrangements:
    Call off orders | Buffer stock | Fixed and contract pricing* | Discounts for increased volumes
  • We help you innovate into the future.
*Conditions apply

What's New

Co-Cr-Ni Coils
Havar®, Elgiloy®, and Phynox®: A Technical Comparison of Cobalt-Chromium Alloys
Havar®, Elgiloy®, or Phynox® — which cobalt-chromium alloy is the best fit for your application?
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March 20, 2026
Glass Precision Spheres
How Precision Glass Spheres Fixed a Critical Seal Failure in a Portable HIV Test
Goodfellow's team identified and supplied the precise glass sphere that eliminated seal failure in a portable HIV diagnostic device.
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March 18, 2026
Nitinol Medical Instruments
Nitinol: Where Motion Meets Memory
Nitinol inverts the fundamental premise of structural alloys: it's specified to deform predictably, repeatedly, and reversibly.
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March 13, 2026
Resources and References

Tassou, S. A., & Ge, Y. T. (2009). Food transport refrigeration – Approaches to reduce energy consumption and environmental impacts of road transport. Applied Thermal Engineering, 29(8–9), 1467–1477. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2008.06.027 

Auto$mart (2014) Weight affects fuel consumption, https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/sites/www.nrcan.gc.ca/files/oee/pdf/transportation/fuel-efficient-technologies/autosmart_factsheet_16_e.pdf, accessed January 2023 

Hekkert, M. P., Joosten, L. A. J., & Worrell, E. (2000). Reduction of CO2 emissions by improved management of material and product use : the case of transport packaging. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 30, 1–27. 

Mangaraj, S., & Goswami, T. K. (2009). Modified Atmosphere Packaging of Fruits and Vegetables for Extending Shelf-Life : A Review. Fresh Produce, 3(1), 1–33. https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398909527506 

About Goodfellow

For over 75 years, we've been your trusted partner in scientific advancement, supporting researchers and businesses globally with high-quality advanced materials.

Our comprehensive catalog features over 170,000 speciality materials, forms and components, which are available from small research quantities to larger production requirements. We offer you fast dispatch and complimentary global delivery, ensuring an exceptional customer experience.