Composites n. - engineered or naturally occurring materials made from two or more constituent materials with significantly different physical or chemical properties which remain separate and distinct at the macroscopic or microscopic scale within the finished structure.
Typically these "two (or more) materials" bring together different types of structure or adhesive to create a single, stronger material. Common examples of composites are concrete, fiberboard and carbon fiber. All of these materials combine a material of compression or tensile strength with a bonding agent which gives the whole composite the strength of the individual units being bonded. In the use of concrete the compression strength of individual rocks combine to create a solid road. Coincidentally there is another advanced studio within our department exploring the possibilities of natural fiber composites. The "Composite Studio" will be using bast fibers (mostly jute) in mat form which have been impregnated with a thermo-sensative bonding agent or needle-punched with a polypropylene mat that acts to bind the fibers in a heated press. The materials used in the composite class have been fully developed and the class is focused on reshaping and repurposing those developed materials. Our class is focused on the development of raw fibers into a 'repurposable', marketable material for industry or craft. Communication between our classes has been mutually beneficial and crossover with equipment, processes and purpose will be useful as we continue working.
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