Types of Composites and Component Materials

Composites are combined materials created by the S5mthetic assembly of two or more components - a selected reinforcing agent and a compatible matrix binder - in order to obtain specific and advanced characteristics and properties. The components of composite do not dissolve or otherwise merge completely into each other, but nevertheless do act in concert. The components as well as the interface between them can usually be physically identified, and it is the behavior and properties of the interface that generally control the properties of the composite. The properties of a composite cannot be achieved by any of the components acting alone. 

The composites can be classified on the basis of the form of their structural components fibrous (composed of fibers in a matrix), laminar (composed of layers of materials), and particulate (composed of particles in a matrix). The particulate class can be further subdivided into flake (flat flakes in a matrix) or skeletal (composed of a continuous skeletal matrix filled by a second material). In general, the reinforcing agent can be either fibrous, powdered, spherical, crystalline, or whiskered and either an organic, inorganic, metallic, or ceramic material. 

A summary of the most important reinforcing filaments and their properties is presented in Tables 2.1-2.7. 

Handbook of Biomaterial Properties. Edited by J. Black and G. Hastings. Published in 1998 by Chapman Hall, London. ISBN 0 412 60330 6. 

Mohs gravity Mechanical properties Tensile strength, psixlO (MPa) 6.5 6.5 6.5 

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