Abstract
This study presents a comprehensive evaluation of polymer composites analyzing five distinct categories: metal composites, ceramic composites, wood-based composites, natural fiber composites, and concrete composites. The analysis focused on four critical performance criteria: lightweight properties, corrosion resistance, customization of properties, and ease of manufacturing, with each criterion weighted equally at 0.25. The evaluation process involved normalizing performance data, applying weightages, and calculating to determine the final rankings. The results revealed that metal composites achieved the highest ranking with a Ci value of 0.7632, followed by concrete composites (Ci = 0.5404), natural fiber composites (Ci = 0.4737), wood-based composites (Ci = 0.4610), and ceramic composites (Ci = 0.4308). Notable findings include concrete composites’ exceptional lightweight properties (99.66) and ceramic composites’ superior customization potential (99.23), while metal composites demonstrated excellent corrosion resistance (85.42). The study highlights that while no single composite excels in all criteria, each type possesses unique strengths suitable for specific applications. This analysis provides valuable insights for materials selection in various engineering applications, particularly in sectors requiring optimal balance between lightweight properties, durability, customization, and manufacturability. The findings contribute to the understanding of polymer composite performance characteristics and can guide future research in composite material development and application-specific selection processes.