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LITHOEN

Composite material

Polymer-matrix composite

Also known as PMC, fibre-reinforced polymer, FRP

A composite whose matrix is a polymer resin, most often reinforced with glass, carbon, aramid or plant fibres. Its matrix may be a thermoset or a thermoplastic, and which it is largely decides how the part can be made.

Classification

matrix family
POLYMER

How this record is known

3
Settled consensus
Cited as the accepted position of the discipline.

3 of 3 claims on this page cite at least one registered source. Counts describe how each statement is known, not how likely it is to be true.

What Lithoen records

Each claim states how it is known and cites its evidence.

EstablishedPolymer resin combined with reinforcing fibres, most commonly glass or carbon.

A fibre-reinforced polymer composite is made by combining a polymer resin with strong reinforcing fibres; the fibres most widely used are glass, carbon, aramid and boron, and of these glass and carbon are the most common.

Evidence support: Supported by the cited evidence 2 sources, multiple sources, independence unknown

Evidence: U.S. Department of Energy 2015 Primary authority; Kumar 2021 Peer-reviewed

EstablishedForming processes grouped into open forming and closed forming.

The forming processes that combine a polymer matrix and its reinforcement into the shape of a part are generally grouped into open forming, in which the part is shaped on one mould surface, and closed forming, in which it is shaped in a closed tool; the part’s final properties depend on the constituents, their starting forms and the consolidation process together.

  • precision note: The source names the two groups; the gloss on what distinguishes them — one mould surface or a closed tool — is read from which processes the source places in each group.

Evidence support: Supported by the cited evidence one source

Evidence: U.S. Department of Energy 2015 Primary authority

EstablishedThermoset matrices predominated, favoured for low viscosity during impregnation (as of 2015).

The U.S. Department of Energy reported in 2015 that most carbon-fibre and glass-fibre composites used thermoset matrices, chiefly because their relatively low viscosity lets liquid resin saturate a dry fibre preform quickly and without voids or dry spots.

  • temporal basis: As reported in the 2015 U.S. Department of Energy technology assessment.

Evidence support: Supported by the cited evidence one source

Evidence: U.S. Department of Energy 2015 Primary authority

In the knowledge graph

Record last updated 2026-10-30. Corrections follow the published corrections policy; superseded claims are retained, never silently edited.