A comprehensive review on polymer matrix composites: material selection, fabrication, and application

Polymer matrix composites have always piqued the curiosity of the scientific, technological communities and are being recognized as the best option for a wide range of engineering applications owing to their superior mechanical qualities, namely stiffness and high specific strength. In addition, these materials offer useful design flexibility and comparatively better fatigue and corrosion resistance than many other materials. These are thus recognized as advanced composite materials due to their superior mechanical properties and comparative ease of fabrication. As a result, manufacturers have turned towards these advanced composites for a wide range of applications in a variety of industries. A manufacturer or designer must choose appropriate constituents of a composite for a particular application while considering all the composite's properties. This stands as one of the main objectives of this review, i.e. to explore various matrices and reinforcement combinations used for different applications taking their properties into accord. This extensive analysis includes a detailed review of certain selective fabrication techniques. In addition to that, polymer matrix composites' numerous applications in today's environment are also discussed, as well as the challenges that they pose in diverse contexts. Through this review, researchers will achieve a better understanding of the significance of these materials and their adaptability in various applications.