In factories, laboratories, and design studios around the world, materials quietly shape how products are made and how industries evolve. Some materials soften, flow, and return to shape, allowing repeated transformation. Others harden once and retain their form for the rest of their service life. Some exist as single substances, while others rely on carefully…

As architects, engineers and manufacturers explore materials that cut weight, reduce upkeep and expand design freedom, composite materials are drawing renewed attention. Composites are being adopted in settings ranging from transportation and construction to electrical systems, and industry observers say the shift is driven by a set of properties that contrast sharply with those of…

Composite building materials are increasingly appearing on construction sites, in design studios and in homeowners’ renovation plans, promising a combination of resilience, flexibility and environmental benefits. Once the province of specialized industrial projects, composites are drawing attention in residential markets for their resistance to decay and pests, their ability to take on unusual shapes and…