This article discusses the array of fiber products, manufacturing approaches, and production suppliers. It also discusses carbon fibers, their range of uses, and their performance capabilities, which are unique and separate from oxide and non-oxide fibers. The article reviews the history of developing silicon carbide (SiC) fibers and SiC-base ceramic-matrix composites. CMCs provide a roadmap and timeline for the technologies developed and refined over the last 50 years of effort to make SiC-SiC composites a reality. The article also describes the use of fiber in composite applications.

For the reinforcement of metal-matrix composites, four general classes of materials are commercially available: oxide fibers based primarily on alumina and alumina silica systems, nonoxide systems based on silicon carbide, boron fibers, and carbon fibers. This article discusses the key aspects of aluminum oxide fibers, silicon carbide fibers, boron fibers, and carbon fibers. The commercial fibers for reinforcement of metal-matrix composites are presented in a table. A tabulation of the coating schemes for silicon carbide monofilament fibers is also provided.