An account of the increasing use of composite materials in semiconductor applications traditionally handled by metal and ceramics, is presented. The Vespel composites, which are fiber reinforced polymers with good strength-to-weight ratio, are replacing metals, ceramics and other thermoplastics in wafer processing and handling application. The use of a ultraclean Vespel CP-9800 composite, made from an ultrahigh-modulus carbon-fiber and epoxy laminate, to make robotic end effectors is also discussed.