Composite material

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 is often a resin such as epoxy that binds the fibres together and renders the material stiff and rigid.

Examples of composite materials:

• glass-reinforced plastic or GRP
• metal matrix composites
• Chobham armour (see composite armour)
• plywood