Which term describes materials made up of more than one material that combine to create a new material with different properties?

• A. Composite materials
• B. Shape memory alloy
• C. Thermochromic ink
• D. Micro encapsulation

Answer: (A)

Two or more materials blending to form a new material with different properties describes composite materials. This happens because the components keep their own identities but work together to give a material with enhanced or new characteristics, like higher strength or lower weight. Classic examples include concrete (cement with aggregates) and fibreglass (glass fibres in a polymer resin). The other terms refer to specific phenomena or techniques that don’t involve combining distinct materials to form a new material: a shape memory alloy is a metal that can return to a preset shape; thermochromic ink changes color with temperature; micro encapsulation involves enclosing substances in tiny capsules. So the description fits composite materials exactly.