Composite Materials
Why Composites?
What are composites?
A composite is a material made from physically distinct and discrete two or more different materials that, when combined, are stronger than those individual materials by themselves.
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​The component materials that can be natural or artificial elements don’t completely blend or lose their individual identities; they combine and contribute their most useful traits to improve the outcome or final product.
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Composites are typically designed with a particular use in mind, such as added strength, efficiency, or durability. There are unlimited design options which are one of the main benefits of composites. However, practically, the industry's most composite products are based on polyester resin as matrix and glass fiber as reinforcement.
What are composites made of?
Provides strength and stiffness (glass, carbon, aramid, basalt, natural fibers)
Reinforcement
Protects and transfers load between fibers (polyester, epoxy, vinyl ester, others)
Matrix
A material with attributes superior to either component alone