A composite material is a material that consists of one or more discontinuous components (particles/fibres/reinforcement) that are placed in a continuous medium (matrix).In a fibre composite the matrix binds together the fibres, transfers loads between the fibres and protects them from the environment and external damage.
Composite materials, or shortened to composites, are microscopic or macroscopic combinations of two or more distinct engineered materials (those with different physical and/or chemical properties) with a recognizable interface between them in the finished product. For structural applications, the definition can be restricted to include those materials that consist of a reinforcing phase such as fibers or particles supported by a binder or matrix phase. Wood composites are commonly seen examples of composite materials.