Composite Materials

**Chapter 1**

Materials

of the materials in various applications.

moved from the laboratory into actual production [1, 2].

natural fibre, biopolymer

**1. Introduction**

**3**

*Tri-Dung Ngo*

**Abstract**

Introduction to Composite

Composite materials have played an important role throughout human history, from housing early civilizations to enabling future innovations. Composites offer many benefits; the key among them are corrosion resistance, design flexibility, durability, light weight, and strength. Composites have permeated our everyday lives such as products that are used in constructions, medical applications, oil and gas, transportation, sports, aerospace, and many more. Some applications, such as rocket ships, probably would not get off the ground without composite materials. This chapter addresses the advantages of fibre composite materials as well as fundamental effects, product development, and applications of fibre composites, including material chemistry, designing, manufacturing, properties, and utilisation

**Keywords:** fibre, matrix, composite, fibre composite, thermoset, thermoplastic,

Composites exist in nature. A piece of wood is a composite, with long cellulose fibres held together by a substance called lignin. Composite materials are formed by combining two or more materials that have quite different properties, and they do not dissolve or blend into each other. The different materials in the composite work together to give the composite unique properties. Humans have been using composite materials for thousands of years in different areas. The first uses of composites date back to the 1500 BC, when early Egyptians and Mesopotamian settlers used a mixture of mud and straw to create strong and durable buildings. The combination of mud and straw in a block of brick provides it a strong property against both squeezing and tearing or bending. The straw continued to provide reinforcement to ancient composite products, including pottery and boats [1]. In 1200 AD, the Mongols invented the first composite bow using a combination of "animal glue", bone, and wood. The bows were pressed and wrapped with birch bark. These bows were powerful and accurate. Composite Mongolian bows helped to ensure Genghis Khan's military dominance. Due to their advantages such as being light weight and strong, many of the greatest advancements in composites were the result of wartime needs. During World War II, many composite materials were developed and

The development and need for composite materials also result in the fibrereinforced polymers (FRP) industry. By 1945, more than 7 million pounds of glass
