Smart and Composite Materials

Question 1

What can Smart Steels do?

Answer 1

Become magnetic under high stress

Absorb impact

Question 2

What is Polymorph?

Answer 2

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

Question 3

What are Smart Colours?

Answer 3

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

Question 4

What are Smart colours used for?

Answer 4

Designing games
Temperature Indicators on Mugs/Spoons for babies to indicate safe temperatures
Additions to jewellery

Question 5

What are other Smart Materials?

Answer 5

Smart grease

Piezo-electric actuators

Question 6

What is Smart Grease?

Answer 6

Sticky and viscous gel that can be used to control the movement of mechanisms

Question 7

What are Piezo-electric actuators?

Answer 7

Electrically charged quartz crystals due to being deformed under mechanical stress

Question 8

What is the use of Piezo-electric actuators?

Answer 8

Gas lighters on cookers

Question 9

What is Glass Reinforced Polyester (GRP)?

Answer 9

Polyester Resin that has been reinforced by addition of strands of spun glass fibres

Question 10

What is the use of Glass Reinforced Polyester?

Answer 10

Car body building

Boat hulls

Question 11

What is reinforced concrete?

Answer 11

Cement mixed with water, sand, aggregate and reinforced with steel bars

Question 12

What are the properties of Glass Reinforced Plastic?

Answer 12

Light
Hardwearing
Durable
Resistant to Corrosion

Question 13

What are the properties of Reinforced concrete?

Answer 13

Dense
Strong under compression
Flexible
Tensile forces

Question 14

What is reinforced concrete used for?

Answer 14

Buildings

Bridges

Question 15

What are Composites?

Answer 15

Glass Reinforced Polymer
Reinforced Concrete
Carbon Fibres
Kevlar
Tufnol
Bi-metallic Strip

Question 16

What are Carbon Fibres?

Answer 16

Spun into cord, laminated with plastics to give exceptional strength and resistance to strain

Question 17

What are the uses are Carbon Fibres?

Answer 17

Camping

Sports Equipment

Question 18

What are threads of Kevlar?

Answer 18

Retain much of their strength at high temperatures and under stress

Question 19

What are threads of Kevlar used for?

Answer 19

Protective Equipment

Cut resistant gloves, helmets, vehicle protection, body armour

Question 20

What do threads of Kevlar do?

Answer 20

Help the seams and edges stay sealed

Keep out flames or sharp points that would burn/ cut the wearer

Question 21

What are the properties of Tufnol?

Answer 21

Lightweight, Good strength, Electrical Insulating properties, doesn’t corrode, excellent weather resistance and chemical resistance

Question 22

What is Tufnol?

Answer 22

High pressure laminate

Question 23

What are the uses of Tufnol?

Answer 23

Used in situations requiring long life in outdoor or marine environments

Question 24

What is a Bi-metallic Strip?

Answer 24

Composite of two metals with different rates of expansion

Question 25

What happens when the temperature changes in a bi-metallic strip?

Answer 25

Metal with greater rate of expansion bends around other

Question 26

What are Bi-metallic strips used for?

Answer 26

Simple temperature sensing devices

Question 27

What are are Nanomaterials?

Answer 27

Based on small nanoparticles diameter (50mn)

Question 28

What are the properties of Nanoparticles?

Answer 28

``` Lubricants Flame retardants Sealants Binders Adhesives ```

Question 29

What does the fact that nanoparticles are strong UV light absorbers mean?

Answer 29

Self Cleaning Glass

Question 30

What does the fact that nanoparticles are small enough to enter the bloodstream mean?

Answer 30

Deliver drugs round the body

Question 31

What can nanotechnology be used for?

Answer 31

Increase strength of polymers and make surfaces harder wearing

Question 32

What can nanotechnology be used to help create?

Answer 32

Self Cleaning Clothing Garments that absorb collision and protect body Sports clothing that measures your individual fitness levels