Composite material
Composite materials merge dissimilar constituents for enhanced properties.
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A composite material is produced from two or more constituent materials with notably dissimilar chemical or physical properties.[1] Typical engineered composites consist of a binding agent forming the matrix and a filler material giving substance.[2]
Quick Facts
- Common modern example
- concrete (most common artificial composite)
- Field
- materials science and engineering
Facts from the source article.
Key facts and history
Steel bars are often added to concrete to form reinforced concrete, giving it tensile strength.[3] Fibre-reinforced polymers include carbon-fiber-reinforced polymers and glass-reinforced plastic.[4] Wood is a naturally occurring composite comprising cellulose fibres in a lignin and hemicellulose matrix.[5] Composite materials can be less expensive, lighter, stronger or more durable than common materials.[6]
Building bricks created from a mixture of straw and mud represent the earliest known composite materials.[7] With roughly 7.5 billion cubic meters produced annually, concrete is the most prevalent man-made composite.[8] The typical composition of concrete is a cement matrix that binds together loose stones (construction aggregate).[8]
What the research sources say
The Resin Library account states that glass-reinforced composites are popular as a replacement for materials like steel, which are heavy and subject to corrosion.[9] The same source notes that mechanical properties are highly dependent on composite production conditions, from hand lay-up to vacuum bagging.[9] CompositesLab describes composites as lightweight, strong, durable, corrosion-resistant, sustainable and easy to maintain.[10] CompositesLab also states that commercial and military aircraft count on composites for their high strength-to-weight ratio and superior fuel efficiency.[10]
The Resin Library account explains that hand lay-up methods offer a convenient, low barrier entry point for creating a fibreglass composite.[9] CompositesLab reports that composites are the material of choice for recreational boats and are gaining a foothold in commercial and military ships.[10]
References
- Wikipedia, "Composite material" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "What are Composites", Discover Composites (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Composite material" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Zhou, "Progress in research on hybrid metal matrix composites", Journal of Alloys and Compounds, October 2020 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Composite material" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Slabs On Grade", Construction Knowldegs.net; "Behaviour of Concrete Under Tension", The Constructor, 2012-12-06; "Reinforced concrete", www.designingbuildings.co.uk (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Composite material" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Reeve, "3 Reasons to use Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (FRP)", www.compositeadvantage.com; "A Beginner's Guide to Fiber Reinforced Plastics (FRP's) - Craftech Industries - High-Performance Plastics - (518) 828-5001", Craftech Industries, 2014-08-05 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Composite material" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Is Wood A Composite Material or A Pure Substance?", WoodWoodLand, 2019-07-09 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Composite material" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Nepal, "Hierarchically structured bioinspired nanocomposites", Nature Materials, January 2023, p. 18–35; McEvoy, "Materials that couple sensing, actuation, computation, and communication", Science, 19 March 2015; "Autonomous Materials Will Let Future Robots Change Color And Shift Shape", popsci.com, 20 March 2015 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Composite material" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Haka, "Engineered Stability.The History of Composite Materials", Springer 2023 Chap. 1 on "Early composites". (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Composite material" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Minerals commodity summary – cement – 2009", US United States Geological Survey, 1 June 2007 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- "Lay-up methods for fibreglass composites Resin Library". facts only, no text reused. resinlibrary.com
- "Filament Winding - Open Molding", CompositesLab. facts only, no text reused. compositeslab.com
Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Composite material (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.
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Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Composite material (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Word definitions: the Codexery glossary, each quoted from its Wikipedia article.
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