A fiber-reinforced composite (FRC) is a high-performance composite material made up of three components - the fibers as the discontinuous or dispersed phase, the matrix acts as the continuous phase, ...

A nanocomposite is a multiphase solid material in which one of the phases has one, two or three dimensions of below 100 nm, or structures with nanoscale repeat distances between the different phases ...

The class of materials known as ceramic matrix composites, or CMCs, shows considerable promise for providing fracture-toughness values similar to those for metals such as cast iron. Two kinds of ...

The elastic energy density is a key parameter, measuring both the stress and strain generation capability of an actuator material. The large operation field required to generate high elastic energy ...

Polymer matrix composites (PMCs) exhibit impressive stiffness and strength properties that are commonly attributed to the reinforcing fibers. However, for many important mechanical properties, the ...

In my previous column (see “Editor's Picks,” at right), I discussed transverse flexural testing of a unidirectional composite as one method of evaluating the strength of the fiber/matrix interfacial ...

For in vitro cellular assays, the extracellular matrix—the material between cells—often is overlooked, but changes within this microenvironment affect cells’ proliferation and differentiation and, ...

Metal matrix composites (MMCs) are composite materials containing at least two constituent parts – a metal part and a material or a different metal part. The metal matrix is reinforced with the other ...