komposite

Komposite, or komposit material, is a substance engineered by combining two or more constituent materials with different physical or chemical properties. The components, typically a reinforced phase and a binding matrix, remain distinct at macroscopic scale but interact to produce properties superior to those of the individual constituents. The goal is to tailor strength, stiffness, weight, and other performance characteristics for specific applications.

Common categories include fiber-reinforced polymers (FRPs), ceramic-matrix composites (CMCs), metal-matrix composites (MMCs), and nano-composites. In FRPs, a polymer resin acts as the matrix with reinforcing fibers such as glass, carbon, or aramid providing high strength and stiffness. CMCs replace the polymer with ceramic matrices, offering high-temperature stability, while MMCs use metal matrices to combine toughness with hardness.

Manufacturing methods vary and include lay-up, filament winding, pultrusion, resin transfer molding, and casting. Processing often involves curing or heat treatment to achieve the desired microstructure and bonding between matrix and reinforcement. The resulting materials exhibit anisotropy, meaning properties differ by direction, and performance depends on the quality of the matrix–reinforcement interface.

Applications span aerospace, automotive, wind energy, sports equipment, civil engineering, and electronic enclosures. Advantages include high strength-to-weight ratios, design flexibility, and corrosion resistance; challenges include higher cost, complex processing, and recycling considerations. Environmental impact and life-cycle assessments are increasingly important in material selection and end-of-life strategies.

Historically, composites evolved from natural materials to modern engineered systems in the mid-20th century, with ongoing developments to improve sustainability, recyclability, and performance across industries. See also fiber-reinforced polymer, resin matrix, and reinforcement.