# Question on composites

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-composites/661393>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 19, 2013, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-composites/661393 "2013-06-19T21:14:28Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\
**Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-composites/661393/1 "2013-06-19T21:14:28Z")

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I can understanbd how things like fiberglass and carbon fiber can have such unique properties in tension, but for some reason I cannot grasp the fiber having any compression qualities beyond the stiffness of the resin or epoxy it is held together with. Are the compression forces actually being converted to tension as the material distorts?