Abstract
Biological materials are complex natural multicomponent or composite materials but the structural elements of the individual components can be simplified to a two or three phase material where one element reinforces the others thus the required balance in properties is achieved. In this respect they are analogous to certain engineering composites, particularly reinforced plastics where a weak polymer matrix is reinforced by strong stiff fibres. Reinforced plastics are already being considered for prosthetic devices but as their theoretical behaviour is now more fully understood they can also serve as a model to assist in the understanding of the more complex behaviour found in biological materials.
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© 1973 Bioengineering Unit, University of Strathclyde
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Abrahams, M. (1973). Multi-Component Materials. In: Kenedi, R.M. (eds) Perspectives in Biomedical Engineering. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-01604-4_31
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-01604-4_31
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
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