Solving Materiai. lssues far Key Technologies. A key element of human nature is the ability to exploit and design materials to fulfil certain purposes. In our modem age, cost and optimised performance have been the key drivers to find substitutes for existing solutions. Scientists and engineers have learned to make use of almost every element in the periodic table to create ever more complex materials for specific applications. In recent years, awareness of the substitution of toxic and resource criticai materials has grown.