Composite Creations

1. Wood You Look at This Composite

Wood and other natural fibers (such as flax and cotton) are collectively referred to as biofibers. When God made plants on day three of creation week, he created a marvelous substance called cellulose fiber, combining it with a substance called lignin. This gives trees the required stiffness for growing upright. Without lignin, the fibers would not have any way to bond together.

Humans have used wood to create other composites. Plywood, for example, is made up of three or more thin layers of wood bonded together with an adhesive such as resin or glue. The layers of wood remain wood, and the glue is still glue. But the new product they make together is stronger than just the thin layers of wood themselves. Plywood can also be a more cost-effective option than regular wood.

2. Composite Crust

When God created the earth, he gave it a special “skin” that we call the crust. Today, this outermost layer of the earth is about 18 miles (30 kilometers) thick on the continents and between 3–5 miles (5–8 kilometers) thick under the oceans. The earth’s crust is a great example of a composite because it is made up of several components. Rock layers, water, and magma were each uniquely created by God to work together to provide the framework for our planet. Even today, after being affected by the flood, the crust still serves its purpose.

3. Fun with Composites

If you like water sports, you can be thankful for the composite fiberglass. Originally invented in 1932 by Russel Games Slayter to be used as thermal building insulation, this “glass wool” also makes it possible to build lightweight but very sturdy boats that can easily speed across the water.

For bikers, carbon-fiber bicycles can go much faster thanks to a stiff but lightweight frame made of carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy. No more lugging those heavy metal-framed bikes on the trail.

Perhaps your hobby is hiking and camping. You appreciate the superior strength-to-weight ratio of composite materials when carrying all your supplies for an overnight trip. The frame and backpack, along with your tent and poles, are all made from composites that are lightweight without compromising strength and safety.

4. Bone-Afide Composite

You may be surprised to learn that your bones are actually a composite, designed by God to make them strong yet flexible. Calcium phosphate is paired with a soft, flexible material called collagen. On its own, collagen would not be the best material to form your bones. If your bones were all collagen, you’d look a bit like a person made of modeling clay. But God designed us perfectly, coupling collagen and calcium phosphate so that we can bend and stretch while also having the support needed to protect vital organs like the heart and brain. Think of bones as one of God’s many composite gifts to you.

5. Copycat Composites

People have been working with composites for thousands of years. We read in Exodus 5 how the Israelites made bricks for the Egyptians from mud and straw. Another manmade composite that has been around for millennia is concrete, which was used in the construction of Ancient Rome for buildings like the Pantheon. A chemical reaction occurs when you combine cement, sand, stones, and water to create concrete, making it stronger than any one of its single components. When you add reinforced steel rods (rebar) to the concrete, you actually create reinforced concrete, yet another composite with even greater strength and flexibility. Can you imagine how much reinforced concrete is used in New York City alone? All those skyscrapers would not be standing today, having weathered countless winds and storms over the years, without reinforced steel rods.

6. Great Composites and the Great Commission

How has the gospel been spread worldwide in the twenty-first century? Think of cell phones, computers, spacecraft, and airplanes, which are made from a variety of composites. In the 1920s and ’30s, it took days for missionaries to cross the ocean. Now, you can get on a modern airplane and fly from Washington, DC, to West Africa in a matter of hours. On the continent of Africa alone, the cell phone allows missionaries to communicate and preach the Word of God. Sermons can be downloaded by people all over the world who cannot travel to hear Christian teachers in person.

Praise the Creator for his great gift of composites that make life more comfortable and the gospel more accessible.