(Photo : Facts about how Composite Materials Are Manufactured) If you have seen concrete, then you know composite material. Concrete, like other composite materials, is solid and durable. Another kind of composite material is a wood-plastic composite. Unlike wood, wood-plastic composite is strong and has a high strength to weight ratio. But what makes composite materials like wood-plastic composite stronger than traditional wood? To know the answer, we have to consider five facts about how composite materials are manufactured. What Is a Composite Material? A composite material is a material that contains a combination of two or more materials. This new composite formed has physical properties that are different from that of the materials used to make it. Engineers are increasingly using composite materials in construction. This is because composites are stronger than non-composite. Aside from that, composite is lightweight. When composites are used to build a structure, they won't add much weight to it. The strength to weight ratio of composites is high. This means that composites are strong and light at the same time. There are two types of constituent materials that are used to make composites. The materials are matrix and reinforcement materials.