| Brain-drain: | Loss of knowledge due to emigration of trained personnel. |
| Composites: | hybrid materials made of a polymer resin reinforced by fibres, combining the high mechanical and physical performance of the fibres and the appearance, bonding and physical properties of polymers. |
| Consolidation: | Packing and freezing into a solid state of the fibres and matrix by pressing out the remaining air. |
| Dehusking: | Mechanical removal of the fibre layer from the coconut. |
| Durability: | The amount of time during which a material or product functions properly. |
| Filament winding: | Process in which products are made by winding fibres around a rotating mandrel. |
| Geo-textile: | A fabric, which is draped over the soil to prevent erosion due to wind or water. |
| Hackling: | Combing of the fibres for removal of the wooden remains and isolation of the clean fibre. |
| Hot press methods: | Manufacturing technique in which fibres and a matrix are placed in a mould, upon which applied pressure in combination with raised temperature result in the desired product shape. |
| Impregnating: | Wetting fibres with a polymer matrix. |
| Laminae: | A composite consisting of a single fibre-layer. |
| Laminate: | A composite built up out of multiple fibre-layers. |
| MLSE: | Medium and Large Scale Enterprises (>20 personnel) |
| Natural fibre composite: | A composite based on natural fibres. |
| Polymer dispersion (latex) | Mixture of finely divided solid particles in a fluid. |
| Polymer matrix: | Material consisting of molecules with a long chain-length, supposed to surround fibres in a composite material. |
| Prepreg: | A composite semi-finished material, which can be shaped and further consolidated upon heating. |
| Pultrusion: | Continuous production process in which a mixture of fibres and matrix is pulled through a hole with the cross-sectional shape of desired product. Profiles at any length can be manufactured. |
| Resin Transfer Moulding: | Manufacturing technique in which the matrix is pressed or sucked through the dry fibres to form a composite. |
| Retting: | The rotting process to remove the fibres from the rest of the plant. |
| Sandwich structure: | Structure consisting of two stiff skins separated by a core material. |
| Single step manufacturing: | Manufacturing of a complete construction in one handling. In contrast to manufacturing of multiple parts, which need to be assembled to form the final construction. |
| Specific Stiffness: | Strength per unit weight. |
| Specific strength: | Strength per unit weight. |
| SSCE: | Small Scale and Cottage Enterprises (<20 personnel) |
| Sustainability: | The amount of "reduced impact" on the environment during the entire lifetime of a product. |
| Trinity essence: | The integrated design process consisting of concepts, materials and processes. Integration is required to fully use the advantages of composites. |
| Vacuum forming: | Manufacturing technique in which the atmospheric pressure is used to form a laminate. |
