Smart and Composite Materials Flashcards
What can Smart Steels do?
Become magnetic under high stress
Absorb impact
What is Polymorph?
A tough polymer which softens and becomes easy to mould at 62degrees
Can be softened with hot water or hairdryer, moulded into shape by hand and hardened when cool
What are Smart Colours?
Range of thermochromic pigments that react to changes in temperature or glow in the dark
Can be mixed with acrylic paint and colour change occurs at predetermined temperatures
What are Smart colours used for?
Designing games
Temperature Indicators on Mugs/Spoons for babies to indicate safe temperatures
Additions to jewellery
What are other Smart Materials?
Smart grease
Piezo-electric actuators
What is Smart Grease?
Sticky and viscous gel that can be used to control the movement of mechanisms
What are Piezo-electric actuators?
Electrically charged quartz crystals due to being deformed under mechanical stress
What is the use of Piezo-electric actuators?
Gas lighters on cookers
What is Glass Reinforced Polyester (GRP)?
Polyester Resin that has been reinforced by addition of strands of spun glass fibres
What is the use of Glass Reinforced Polyester?
Car body building
Boat hulls
What is reinforced concrete?
Cement mixed with water, sand, aggregate and reinforced with steel bars
What are the properties of Glass Reinforced Plastic?
Light
Hardwearing
Durable
Resistant to Corrosion
What are the properties of Reinforced concrete?
Dense
Strong under compression
Flexible
Tensile forces
What is reinforced concrete used for?
Buildings
Bridges
What are Composites?
Glass Reinforced Polymer Reinforced Concrete Carbon Fibres Kevlar Tufnol Bi-metallic Strip
What are Carbon Fibres?
Spun into cord, laminated with plastics to give exceptional strength and resistance to strain
What are the uses are Carbon Fibres?
Camping
Sports Equipment
What are threads of Kevlar?
Retain much of their strength at high temperatures and under stress
What are threads of Kevlar used for?
Protective Equipment
Cut resistant gloves, helmets, vehicle protection, body armour
What do threads of Kevlar do?
Help the seams and edges stay sealed
Keep out flames or sharp points that would burn/ cut the wearer
What are the properties of Tufnol?
Lightweight, Good strength, Electrical Insulating properties, doesn’t corrode, excellent weather resistance and chemical resistance
What is Tufnol?
High pressure laminate
What are the uses of Tufnol?
Used in situations requiring long life in outdoor or marine environments
What is a Bi-metallic Strip?
Composite of two metals with different rates of expansion
What happens when the temperature changes in a bi-metallic strip?
Metal with greater rate of expansion bends around other
What are Bi-metallic strips used for?
Simple temperature sensing devices
What are are Nanomaterials?
Based on small nanoparticles diameter (50mn)
What are the properties of Nanoparticles?
Lubricants Flame retardants Sealants Binders Adhesives
What does the fact that nanoparticles are strong UV light absorbers mean?
Self Cleaning Glass
What does the fact that nanoparticles are small enough to enter the bloodstream mean?
Deliver drugs round the body
What can nanotechnology be used for?
Increase strength of polymers and make surfaces harder wearing
What can nanotechnology be used to help create?
Self Cleaning Clothing
Garments that absorb collision and protect body
Sports clothing that measures your individual fitness levels
