Hybrid polymer composites for high strain rate applications

Hybrid composites, composed of more than one type of reinforcement, can be in the form of continuous fibre-reinforced composites, short fibre-reinforced composites, particulate-reinforced composites, fibre metal laminates (FMLs), or a combination of these materials. In this chapter we present a critical review of recent developments towards the use of hybrid composites for improving impact resistance, energy absorption and vibration damping characteristics. This review focuses on recent advances in fibre-reinforced hybrid composites, nanoparticle-reinforced hybrid composites, and FMLs.