Location and purpose
Where will the material be used, what will it contact and which problem should it address? A redacted drawing fragment may be useful.
Use and process conditions
Record the environment, geometry, process and assembly constraints. Do not turn unconfirmed temperatures or loads into fixed requirements.
Sources of existing information
Organise supplier notes, public material and existing tests. Keep the version, conditions and source with each value.
Samples and validation
State which samples are available, what is to be compared, the tests needed and who will review the outcome.
Supply and collaboration
Distinguish concept assessment, sample validation and purchasing. Define costs, intellectual property and subsequent responsibilities for each.