The List of Composite Materials: Natural Composites That Are Commonly Used

If you’re curious about composite materials, they’ve actually been around for thousands of years.

There are lots of different types of composite materials, but what is a composite material?

A composite material is a simple combination of two or more materials, usually with different properties used across various industries.

So, read on for a list of composite materials and to learn more about them.

List of Composite Materials

Composite materials are used in various industries from aeronautic to construction to automotive and more. Therefore, composite materials are natural and manufactured.

Natural Composites

Natural composites are easily preferable from an environmental standpoint. We at SMI Composite understand the importance of working towards sustainability and are at the forefront of advancements in the field.

Aside from the ecological benefits, natural composites offer a few other benefits, too. These include the durability and longevity of products, due to their renewability. There are economic benefits because of the same renewability, too.

Different types of natural composites include:

  • Engineered wood
  • Engineered bamboo
  • Plywood
  • Parquetry

Working with natural composites is not your only option for composite materials, though.

Concrete Composites

When looking at a list of composite materials, concrete composite materials are older and more common. For instance, below are different types of concrete composite.

  • Reinforced concrete
  • Glass fiber reinforced concrete
  • Translucent concrete

These composite materials are often used in construction, depending on the varying tensile strength involved.

Other Types of Composites

Although natural composites and concrete composites offer their own benefits for various reasons, other composite materials offer positives, too. For example, below are some alternatives to the already listed composite material.

  • Metal matrix composite: material dispersed in the metal
  • Carbon fiber reinforced polymer: carbon structure set in platic
  • Sandwich panel: various materials layered together
  • Composite honeycomb: various materials organized hexagonally
  • Papier-mache: paper bound with adhesive
  • Plastic-coated paper
  • Syntactic foams: microballoons filled with metal, plastic, or ceramic
  • Wood-plastic composite: wood fiber or flour cast in plastic
  • Pykrete: ice and wood pulp composite
  • Cement-bonded wood fiber: mineralized wood chips in cement

Composites are used throughout a number of projects and industries. Although the use of some composite materials is preferable to others, depending on the needs of your industrial market.

Where to Get Your Composite Materials

Now that you have a comprehensive list of composite materials, you should be aware of what to look for in a trustworthy composites manufacturer, such as SMI Composites.

We have the capacity to meet a wide range of market needs: whether in the carbon fiber, automotive, aerospace, or even the European market. Our variability in composite construction allows for flexibility for whatever you and your company require.

We are dedicated to the growth of our core capabilities, as well as staying at the forefront of future technology in composite materials. Therefore, be sure to check out our website for more helpful information about our services and composite material in the future.

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