110 Green Composites from Natural Resources
The role of matrix in a reinforced composite is to transfer stress between the
bers, to provide a barrier against an adverse environment, and to protect the sur-
face of the bers from mechanical abrasion. The matrix plays a major role in the
tensile load-carrying capacity of a composite structure. The binding agent or matrix
in the composite is of critical importance. Four major types of matrices have been
reported: polymeric, metallic, ceramic, and carbon. Most of the composites used in
the industry today are based on polymer matrices (Hull and Clyne 1996). Polymer
resins have been divided broadly into two categories: thermosets and thermoplastics.
5.6.1 therMosets and therMoPlastiCs
Thermoset is ...