Composite Materials

Question 1

Composite materials

Definition

Answer 1

Formed when 2 or more distinctly different materials are combined together to create a new material with improved properties and functionality

Question 2

Advantages to composite materials

Answer 2

• creates improved material, more suitable for a purpose
• can make the perfect material (with required properties) for process or product
• can improve materials properties - less wastage of undesirable materials / properties

Question 3

Disadvantage to composite materials

Answer 3

• uses more energy to create new materials
• more costly
• needs to find perfect combination quantity - takes time and money
• can’t always control outcome for desired properties / can’t always remove undesirable properties completely
• can make too much (waste) or too little (more energy used to make more) as product is not natural
• don’t know how to dispose of new material properly as it is not natural ie plastic - takes a long time to decompose etc - damage environment in long term