Composite Materials

A fiber has one long dimension. Fiber-reinforced materials are typified by fiberglass in which there are three components: glass filaments (for mechanical strength), a polymer matrix (to encapsulate the filaments); and a bonding agent (to bind the glass to the polymer). Other fibers include metal, ceramics, and polymers. The fibers can be used as continuous lengths, in staple-fiber form, or as whiskers (short, fine, perfect, or nearly perfect single crystals). Fiber-reinforcement depends as much on fabrication procedure as on materials.