ABSTRACT
After reading this chapter, the readers will be able to define and identify various types of composite materials. Why composites are necessary and what are their applications? These topics have been discussed at length in this chapter. A comparative view has been presented with respect to the properties of composites in comparison with other materials. This will enable the readers to gauge the importance of composite materials in various areas such as aerospace, missiles, automobiles, medical, and renewable fields. A detailed classification of composite materials has been made in this chapter. The readers will be able to define fibrous, laminated, particulate, and combination of these composites. The development of composite materials from the Roman era to the current decade has been discussed with the help of several examples.
