Abstract:
On account of their uniqueness, during the last 30 years, the concept of composites has been exceptionally appealing to many researchers, technologists and entrepreneurs. Consequently, the number of scientific and technological investigations in the field has grown profusely, in a widespread fashion, with numerous attempts in all fields, namely, polymer-, ceramic- and metal-matrix composites. However, to a degree, this enthusiasm has led to a misconception in that composites are a synonym of a simple mixture of materials and that it refers only to structural applications. The recent literature shows that a broad range of thermal and functional applications are under investigation, in addition to the structural ones, upon which most of the current literature and syllabi are based. In tandem with this boom, partly because of the advent of nanoscience and nanotechnology, a number of new terms has been used. This fact suggests the need for an update in the classification of composites and in the review of the principles upon which they are founded, and perhaps, in redefining some previous concepts and the establishment of new ones. On the basis of a recent review of the literature - bibliographical references and statistics of old and new books, as well as specialized journals on the subject -, in this contribution, authors put forward an updated classification, review the essentials of composites and provide illustrative examples from ancient to the most recent applications. To conclude, an insight into the future prospects on the subject is painstakingly delineated.
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