Composite

Name:
Composite
Detailed information:
A mixture or mechanical combination on a macroscale of two or more materials that are solid in the finished state, are mutually insoluble, and differ in chemical nature. The major types are (1) Laminates of paper, fabric, or wood (veneer) and a thermosetting material (resin, rubber, or adhesive); examples are tire carcasses, plywood, and electrical insulating structures; (2) Reinforced plastics, principally of glass fiber and a thermosetting resin; other types of fibers such as boron, aluminum silicate, and silicon carbide may be used.See Whiskers.(3) Cermets, which are mixtures of ceramic and metal powders, heat treated and compressed. (4) Fabrics, e.g., woven combinations of wool or cotton and a synthetic fiber. (5) Filled composites in which a bonding material, i.e., linseed oil, resin, or asphalt, is loaded with a filler in the form of flakes or small particles; examples are linoleum, glass flake–plastic mixtures for battery cases, and asphalt–gravel road-surfacing mixtures.