The String and Glue of Our World: Understanding Composite Materials

This is a book about composite materials, written from the perspective of someone who has been in the industry for more than four decades and had to learn about them the hard way. Aimed at the curious citizen scientist or maker, it is written in the first person in an accessible, entertaining, and jargon-free style, introducing and explaining the how and why of composite materials.

Following a history of composites, the book discusses the periodic table of elements and why getting to know this table is so important. It then introduces strings (fibers) and glues (matrices or resins) and explains how they're put together, how to design with them, and how to analyze what you've designed. It also describes the composites business and includes a list of good schools and their involvement with industry.