Smart and Modern Materials Flashcards
What is a smart material?
A material whose properties change in response to an input
Why do designers use smart materials?
Used in products to make them safer or simpler to use
What do thermochromic paints do?
Changes colour in heat
What are thermochromic paints used in?
Textiles, card based products + ceramics
Thermochromatic pigment added to polymers and react to certain temperatures - safety spoons, bowls for babies
What do photochromatic materials do?
Reacts to changes in light
What are photochromatic materials used in?
Reaction lenses that darken in sunlight
What do electrochromatic materials do?
Changes colour or opacity when voltage is applied
What are electrochromatic materials used in?
Liquid crystal displays in digital technology
Smart goggles and motorcycle helmets (controlled by a touch of a button)
What do hydrochromic materials do?
Changes colour with water
What are hydrochromic materials used in?
Nappies
Apple products have it in the charging socket
What do SMA materials do?
Shape Memory Alloys
Change shape with heat and return to original shape when heated
What are SMA materials used in?
Spectacle frames
What do phosphorescent materials do?
Glow in the dark
What do polymorph thermoplastic materials do?
Can be reheated and reused
What are phosphorescent materials used in?
Safety lighting, signs, faces of watches, clocks
Absorbs daylight stores and releases in darkness
What are polymorph thermoplastic materials used in?
Prototyping
Ergonomic grips
What is a modern material?
Technical materials that have been manufactured for function
What are some features of graphene?
Strong material, flexible, conductor of heat and electricity
How does graphene help other materials?
Improves the strength of other materials - only requires a small amount (light weight)
What are graphene composites used in?
Aerospace, building materials + mobile devices
What is titanium used to do?
Alloyed with other metals to enhance properties
What is titanium used for?
Artificial joints + dental implants
What are some features of titanium?
Anti-corrosive, good strength to weight ratio, pure titanium doesn’t react to the human body
What are some features of metal foams?
Strong, light weight, electrical + thermal conductors and absorbs sound well
How are metal foams made?
Injecting gas into a liquid metal such as aluminium or titanium
What are metal foams used in?
Crumple zones in transport + transport structures
What are nano materials?
Between 1-100 nanometers
What are nanoparticles used in?
Manufacture of cars - faster, safer and greater fuel efficiency
Can be used to produce more efficient lighting and insulating systems
What does fibre optics do?
Transmits data via fast-traveling pulses of light
A layer of cladding is wrapped around the central fibre causing light to repeatedly bounce off the walls
How does cladding help fibre optics?
Prevents light from leaking out the edges, signal goes further
What is a biopolymer?
Plastics derived from natural sources such as starch, sugar and cellulose
Can biodegrade
