Composites are structural products comprising a combination of dissimilar constituent materials.
The overall engineering performance characteristics of a finished composite far exceed those achievable from any of the individual components used in isolation. The use of composites by mankind dates back into antiquity, with one of the earliest recorded uses being the manufacture of mud bricks incorporating straw reinforcement. Reinforced concrete is a more recent example. Most modern engineering composites comprise a thermosetting resin matrix in combination with a fibrous reinforcement. Some advanced thermoplastic resins are also used, whilst some composites employ mineral filler reinforcements, either alone or in combination with fibrous types.