COMPOSITE MATERIAL

What is Composite Materials ??  
Composites materials are made by combining two materials where one of the materials is a reinforcement (fiber) and the other material is a matrix (resin). The combination of the fiber and matrix provide characteristics superior to either of the materials alone. Some examples of composite materials are plywood, reinforced concrete, fiberglass & polyester resin, and graphite & epoxy resin.

Wood composite
•Engineered wood, also called composite wood, man-made wood, or manufactured board, includes a range of derivative wood products which are manufactured by binding the strands, particles, fibers, or veneers of wood, together with adhesives, to form composite materials.
•Typically, engineered wood products are made from the same hardwoods and softwoods used to manufacture lumber.

Advantages of Wood composite
•it can be designed to meet application-specific performance requirements.
•Small pieces of wood, and wood that has defects, can be used in many engineered wood products, especially particle and fiber-based boards
•Most engineered wood products are far more dimensionally stable and resistant to warping than solid lumber. 

Disadvantages of Wood composite
•Some products burn much more quickly than solid lumber. They require more primary energy for their manufacture than solid lumber. The required adhesives may be toxic.
•Cutting and otherwise working with engineered wood products can expose workers to toxic constituents.
•Some engineered wood products are weaker and more prone to humidity-induced warping than equivalent solid woods, and most particle and fiber-based boards readily soak up water unless they are treated with sealant or paint which usually leads to accelerated fungus growth. 

Types of Wood composite
•Plywood
•Chipboard
•Laminated butcher’s block
•Strip laminates
•Melamine-coated wood
•Cork
•MDF
•Veneer
•Hardboard