Martin Pech-Canul

Abstract:

Albeit composites have been considered for long an extra class of materials. A thoughtful analysis readily suggests that they are perhaps the consummate benchmark of materials, because they may encompass all other classes of materials. Furthermore, with the advent of the field of nanoscience and nanotechnology, the concept of composites was quickly assimilated and applied to situations at the nanometer scale, giving place to the "nanocomposites" class of materials. At the same time, and due to an intense research activity, a countless number of new or modified composite materials developments were reported in the literature. These new developments did reflect the fact that the concept of composites is nowadays exploited not only from the structural standpoint but also from the functional and thermal applications outlook. It should be kept in mind that the concept of composites was originally conceived with the intention of primarily enhancing the mechanical properties of a given material, clearly distinguishing between the matrix and the reinforcing phase. However, with the advent of nanocomposites and with the use of the concept of composites for functional and thermal applications, not only it is pertinent to review the new concepts brought up in dozens of publications but also to propose an updated classification of them. The aim of this contribution is to review the essentials behind the subject matter of composite materials and highlight the recent trends involving new concepts, definitions and updated classifications in an in-depth but also in an easy-to-understand and accessible language. Future perspectives for some of the new developments are also outlined.