Smart And Modern Materials Flashcards
What is a smart material
A material that often behaves in a unique and special way to give clever effects which can increase function, aesthetics and give it a usp
What smart material reacts to heat and what does it do and what is an example pin what is is used on
Thermochromic materials change colour depending on the temperature. Can be printed onto paper, plastic and ceramics and add nice designs or be used as a thermometer on the skin, changing colour to indicate temperature.
What kind of material reacts to light and what is it used for
Photochromic materials react to the light and can change colour, these are often used on glasses to make lenses darken when it is sunny and lighten when it’s dim
What kind of material reacts to electricity and what is it used for
Inks that change colour depending on electrical input. Commonly used on rear view mirrors in cars which darken when a bright light is detected, reducing the glare.
What kind of material reacts to water and uses
Hydrochromic inks échange colour based on amount of water on it. They are often used in plant pots to indicate how much water the plant has and if it needs watering.
What are phosphorescent materials
Inks that absorb light in the day and them emit it when it’s dark. Many watches have these inks on there hands to make them glow when it’s dark
What are modern materials
Not nessisary a smart material but any material created within the last 50 years
What are cornstarch polymers
Plastics that are made of crops with lots of starch to replace oil based thermo plastics. They are more environmentally friendly as they are bio dégradés le
What is paper foam
A combination of paper fibres and cornstarch polymers that is strong and scratch resistant and can be mouled. Often used as cd cases
What is polymorphism and what is it used fo and what type of material is it
Polymorphe is a modern and smart material. This is because it hardens and softenes depending on the temperature. It’s hard at room temperature but and sixty degrees it become soft like plasticine and can be mouled and left to harden. It is often used in modelling to create prototype models
What is PMC
PMC stands for precious metal clays and. Are 99.9% metal usually gold or silver and 0.1% clay. They can be shaped at room temperature and then heated and stay hard. They are expensive and used in jewlarry and by jewellery designers
What is nano technology
A method of changing the atomic structure of the material in order to make it better. It can make it cheaper, lighter and stronger. An example would be manipulating carbon atoms into diamonds or changing the structure of silicon to make a computer chip
