Are metamaterials composites and optical metamaterials the same thing?

While they are both classed as metamaterials, metamaterial composites (or mechanical metamaterials) and optical metamaterials differ in their responses to external forces.

Optical metamaterials are a type of electromagnetic metamaterial that can affect electromagnetic waves.

Mechanical metamaterials are classed as a type of structural metamaterial, which are more concerned with physical properties like density, strength, and stiffness.

Mechanical metamaterials can take the functionality of structural metamaterials further by using corrosion-resistant or high-temperature materials, for example.