Full definition
An engineered material made by combining two or more constituent phases — a reinforcement (fiber or particle providing strength) embedded in a matrix (resin or metal providing shape and load transfer) — to achieve properties superior to either component alone. Fiber reinforcement types: glass (E-glass most common, tensile 3,400 MPa, economical), carbon (tensile 3,500-7,000 MPa, highest stiffness, lightweight), and aramid/Kevlar (high impact and cut resistance). Matrix types: thermoset (epoxy, polyester, vinyl ester — most common for industrial FRP) and thermoplastic (PEEK, PPS — recyclable, for aerospace). Manufacturing: hand lay-up, filament winding, pultrusion, compression molding, autoclave cure, and resin transfer molding (RTM). Properties: specific strength 3-5x steel at 1/5 the weight, design flexibility, corrosion immunity. Per ASTM D3039 (tensile), D2344 (shear). Applications: FRP tanks, pipes, gratings, wind turbine blades, aircraft structures, automotive panels, and sports equipment. Key advantage: anisotropic — fibers can be oriented to match load paths.