Nature tends to use composites in building strong structures. Timber, for instance, is a composite made up of strong cellulose fibers in soft lignin. Bone consists of hydroxyapatite in collagen. Although people don't always recognize them, composites are everywhere. Only in the last 50 years or so has mankind purposely imitated these natural materials by developing artificial composites.

Topics
Composite materials, Natural materials, Polymers, Minerals
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A. Kelly, C. Zweben, eds., Comprehensive Composite Materials, 6 vols., Elsevier, Oxford, England, in press.
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© 1999 American Institute of Physics.
1999
American Institute of Physics
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