Composite Materials

Abstract Composites are important materials which are now used widely, not only in the aerospace industry, but also in a large and increasing number of commercial mechanical engineering applications, such as internal combustion engines; machine components; thermal management and electronic packaging; automobile, train, and aircraft structures and mechanical components, such as brakes, drive shafts, flywheels, tanks, and pressure vessels; dimensionally stable components; process industries equipment requiring resistance to high‐temperature corrosion, oxidation, and wear; offshore and onshore oil exploration and production; marine structures; sports and leisure equipment; ships and boats; and biomedical devices. The four primary categories of composites are polymer matrix composites (PMCs), metal matrix composites (MMCs), ceramic matrix composites (CMCs), and carbon matrix composites (CAMCs). Carbon‐carbon composites (CCCs) are the most important subclass of CAMCs. Composites also offer a number of significant manufacturing advantages over monolithic metals and ceramics. Composites are complex and heterogeneous material systems.