A composite material of particles disposed in a matrix material is provided in which the particles have an asymmetric geometric shape with a longest dimension and a shortest dimension different from the longest dimension. Adjacent volume portions of the composite material are arranged in a mosaic pattern to abut along an interface or surface forming a common boundary between the adjacent volume portions. The particles within the adjacent volume portions are arranged with differing orientations with respect to the interface. The orientations of the particles in the adjacent volume portions are selected so that a crack propagating on a crack propagation path through one or the other of the adjacent volume portions stops at or deflects to propagate along the interface. Methods of making composite materials are also provided.

A method for providing an integrated composite article made of a metal and a resin is provided. A crystalline thermoplastic resin composition is provided as a resin material. A plate material of various kinds of Al alloys having a thickness of 0.5 to 1.5 mm and having been subjected to a chemical treatment of NMT and cut out to be of a form and a dimension is placed in a metallic mold for an injection molding and injecting the crystalline thermoplastic resin composition into the metallic mold to form the integrated composite article having a final plate shape including curved face portion. The integrated composite article is provided as a roof of an automobile, and contribute to promotion of lighter weight of a vehicle, reduction of CO.sub.2, coping with problems of global warming.