ABSTRACT
This chapter provides the reader an overview of composite materials. Composites have their own unique features. Composites are multiphase material systems and their behavior is dependent on the constituents; a note on the general functions and characteristics of the constituents is given. Broadly, four types of materials are used for making a structural element. These are metals, polymers, ceramics, and composites. Composites can be classified primarily in two ways. As mentioned, the four broad types of structural materials, of which any one of the first three, namely, metals, polymers, and ceramics, is used as the matrix for making a composite material. Thus, the first way to classify a composite material is based on the type of matrix material. From this angle, composite materials are classified into: Polymer matrix composites (PMCs); Metal matrix composites (MMCs); Ceramic matrix composites (CMCs); Carbon/carbon composites (C/C composites).
