Composite Materials

Unit - III

Chapter 4

Composite Materials

INTRODUCTION

All the engineering materials (high polymers, metals and ceramics) possess their outstanding characteristics as well as limitations. None of these can be properly used where very stringent and specific requirements are required, e.g., high temperature reactors, supersonic aircrafts, missiles, etc. In order to meet such a stringent and specific requirements, scientists and technologists have developed a new class of materials called “composites”.

DEFINITION

A composite material may be defined as, "a material system consisting a mixture of two (or) more micro-constituents, which are mutually insoluble, differing in form (or) composition and forming distinct phases". Such a combination, possesses properties different from those of any of its constituents.