Chemistry, materials science, and engineering are involved in the obtaining of some materials from two or more constituent components, creating materials with properties unlike the individual elements, known as composite materials.

The well-known composite materials include but are not limited to reinforced concrete and masonry, composite wood such as plywood, reinforced plastics, such as fiber-reinforced polymer or fiberglass, ceramic matrix composites (composite ceramic and metal matrices), metal matrix composites and other advanced composite materials. Composite materials are generally used for buildings, bridges, and structures such as boat hulls, swimming pool panels, racing car bodies, shower stalls, bathtubs, storage tanks, imitation granite, and cultured marble sinks and countertops. They are also being increasingly used in general automotive applications. The most advanced examples perform routinely on spacecraft and aircraft in demanding environments. Fiber-reinforced polymers encompass carbon-fiber-reinforced polymers and glass-reinforced plastic. When categorized based on the matrix, there are four types of thermoplastic composites: thermoplastic composites with short fibers, thermoplastic composites with long fibers, long-fiber-reinforced thermoplastics, and thermoplastic composites made with a combination of long and short fibers. There are a wide variety of thermoset composites, which include paper composite panels. Most advanced thermoset polymer matrix systems typically include aramid fiber and carbon fiber in an epoxy resin matrix.

Shape-memory polymer composites are advanced composites made by combining fiber or fabric reinforcements with a matrix of shape-memory polymer resin. These composites, made with a shape-memory polymer resin as the matrix, have a high level of strength and stiffness at lower temperatures. They can be easily manipulated into different configurations by heating them over their activation temperatures. The material qualities of these objects remain intact even after multiple cycles of reheating and reshaping. These composite materials are well-suited for several applications, including lightweight, stiff, foldable structures, fast production, and dynamic strengthening.

High-strain composites are a specific category of high-performance composites that are engineered to function effectively in environments with significant deformation. These composites are commonly utilized in deployable systems where the ability to flex structurally is beneficial. High-strain composites, despite sharing characteristics with shape-memory polymers, primarily rely on the arrangement of fibers rather than the amount of resin in the matrix for their performance.