A composite or composite material (also composition material) is a
material which is produced from two or more constituent materials. These
constituent materials have notably dissimilar chemical or physical properties
and are merged to create a material with properties unlike the individual
elements. Within the finished structure, the individual elements remain
separate and distinct, distinguishing composites from mixtures and solid
solutions. Composite materials with more than one distinct layer are called
composite laminates.
Typical engineered composite materials are made up of a binding agent forming
the matrix and a filler material (particulates or fibres) giving substance
, e.g.