Banana Fiber Reinforcement and Application in Composites: A Review

Composites: A Definition

A composite material is defined as a material made by combining two or more materials to give a unique combination of properties, one of which is made up of stiff, long fibres and the other, a binder or 'matrix' which holds the fibres in place.

According to Jartiz 1965, “Composites are multifunctional material systems that provide characteristics not obtainable from any discrete material. They are cohesive structures made by physically combining two or more compatible materials, different in composition and characteristics and sometimes in form.”

This definition is can be contradicted as it allows to any mixture of materials to be classified as a composite without specifying the laws which should distinguish it from other very banal, meaningless mixtures.

Beghezan (1966) defined as “The composites are compound materials which differ from alloys by the fact that the individual components retain their characteristics but are so incorporated together as such to take advantage only of their attributes and not of their short comings, in order to obtain improved materials.”

Kelly (1967) stated that “the composites should not be regarded simple as a combination of two materials. In the broader significance; the combination has its own distinctive properties. In terms of strength, resistance to heat or some other desirable quality, it is better than either of the components alone or radically different from either of them.”