Composite material: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

Composite materials (or composites for short) are engineering materials made from two or more components. One component is often a strong fibre such as fiberglass, kevlar or carbon fibre that gives the material its tensile strength, while another component (often called a matrix) is often a resin such as polyester or epoxy that binds the fibres together and renders the material stiff and rigid.

Examples of composite materials:

• Glass-fibre reinforced plastic or GRP
• Carbon-fibre reinforced plastic or CRP (see carbon fiber)
• metal matrix composites or MMCs
• Chobham armour (see composite armour)
• plywood
• Weatherbest
• Glare, glass-fibre reinforced aluminium