Photocromatic Pigment, Aluminium Foam, Shape Memory Alloy, Thermochromatic

Question 1

Metal foams

Overview

Answer 1

Porous metal structures
Made from aluminium and titanium

Lightweight
Recyclable

Created: injecting gas into liquid metals

Question 2

Metal foams
Characteristics
Uses

Answer 2

Characteristics:
Strong
Lightweight
Electrically and thermally conductive
Very porous
Good sound absorption

Uses:
Medical implants
Aircraft and car parts
Lightweight load bearing structures
Impact absorption in vehicles

Question 3

Thermochromic pigments
Responds to
Characteristics
Uses

Answer 3

Responds to: heat

Characteristics:
Pigments embedded into the thermochromic material respond to temperature changes by changing colour
Normally Change as heat up and cool down, some irreversible

Uses:
Flexible thermometers 
Temperature indicators
Clothing
Novelty goods
Over heating / cooling indicators

Question 4

Photochromic pigments
Reacts to
Characteristics
Used

Answer 4

Reacts to: UV light

Characteristics:
Pigments that embedded into photochromic material respond to changes in UV light levels by changing colour or darkening
Once UV light taken away, return to original colour

Uses:
Novelty goods
Paints
Clothing that change colour in UV light
Lenses - lighten / darken

Question 5

Shape memory alloy
Reacts to
Characteristics
Uses

Answer 5

Reacts to: heat or electricity

Characteristics:
Shape can be programmed when heated to 540 deg. C
Can be deformed and will return to memory shape when reheated to 70 deg. C

Uses:
Frames for glasses
Dental braces
Self expanding stents used in surgical procedures to open capillaries 
Fire sprinklers