fiberbound

Fiberbound is a term used in materials science to describe composites in which a network of fibers provides the primary load-bearing element, bound together by a matrix or binder. The fiber network may be continuous, as in unidirectional or braided configurations, or distributed, as in nonwoven mats. The emphasis is on fiber-dominated behavior rather than matrix-dominated properties, although the matrix still serves to transfer load and protect the fibers.

Common forms include fiberbound polymers (carbon, glass, or aramid fibers in a resin), fiberbound ceramics (ceramic fibers reinforcing a ceramic or glass-ceramic matrix), and, in some contexts, fiberbound concretes where fibers enhance toughness.

Manufacturing techniques include filament winding, pultrusion, resin transfer molding, automated fiber placement, and additive manufacturing with short or continuous fibers. Key properties include high specific strength and stiffness, anisotropy, and good fatigue resistance along fiber directions, with thermal stability and moisture sensitivity depending on material system; the fiber-matrix interface is critical.

Applications span aerospace structures, automotive components, sporting goods, wind energy components, and civil engineering reinforcements. Limitations include directional dependence, potential delamination under complex loading, and higher material costs compared with isotropic metals or polymers. The term fiberbound is not universally standardized and is often used descriptively in industry literature rather than as a formal material category.