Abstract:
A composite material is provided by this disclosure which utilizes prior art host matrix materials with new resident inclusions for structural members with unique properties and applications. An illustrative embodiment of a composite material according to the principles of this invention is described with fiber inclusions fabricated by electroplating of a polycrystalline film on a substrate. Polycrystalline fibers are fabricated with a wide range of sizes to have strength approaching those of a single crystal whisker of the polycrystalline material. An illustrative composite material is fabricated with a host matrix of epoxy resin in which resident fiber inclusions are dispersed.