My parents never felt that I was college 'material'. [=that I was someone who should go to college]
Her boss regards her as executive 'material'. [=as someone who would make a good executive]
The comedian gets his 'material' from things that have happened to him.
(..) Of course he didn't tell the press... ...that "bare minimum of expense" is a fairly loose term. There are different ways to skim off the top. Men, materials, you name it. And oh, my Lord, how the money rolled in! At this rate, you'll put me out of business. With this pool of slave labor, (..)1994 The Shawshank Redemption