1. What is a composite? Why are they used in the Olympics?
Olympic Composites
What is a composite?
Why are they used in the Olympics?

2. What are composites?
A composite is a mix of two or more materials which often have very different properties.
You can tell the materials apart as they do not dissolve or blend into each other – you may not be able to do this without a microscope.

3. Mud bricks
A very early composite was mud bricks. They are made of mud and straw
Look closely and you can see mud and straw in the brick.

4. Mud Bricks

5. Hockey sticks Hockey sticks used to be made from wood.
Now they are made from a composite made of plastic mixed with carbon fibres.

6. Cycling Bikes used to be made from metal which is strong but heavy.
Now they are made from carbon fibre which is much lighter.

7. Olympic composites Now composites are used in many Olympic sports.
Lev Radin
Lev Radin
Photos (left to right) accredited to Aspen Photo, Lev Radin and Dmitry Yashkin.