smart materials

Question 1

self-healing concrete

Answer 1

designed to avoid stress cracks filling with water

Question 2

nomex

Answer 2

heat and flame resistant
used in F1 overalls

Question 3

kevlar

Answer 3

lightweight, flexible
resistant to heat and chemicals
used for police armour

Question 4

self-healing polymers

Answer 4

react to stress fractures by releasing a resin into new crack

Question 5

shape memory alloy

Answer 5

set into shape at 40 degrees
can be deformed using heat or electricity

Question 6

electroluminescent materials

Answer 6

low power consumption, can come in wire or film

Question 7

photochromic pigments

Answer 7

UV light stimulates particles in a special pigment

Question 8

polymorph

Answer 8

thermoforming plastic which becomes soft and pliable at low temps
set into shape at 62 degrees

Question 9

QTC

Answer 9

polymer that contains billions of metal particles that don’t touch

Question 10

thermochromic pigment

Answer 10

hot and cold temperatures trigger a change in colour

Question 11

piezoelectric

Answer 11

a material that generates electricity when pressed

Question 12

what is a smart material

Answer 12

a material whose properties change in response to a stimuli

Question 13

glass reinforced plastic

Answer 13

made of thermosetting plastic resin that has been reinforced using glass fibres

Question 14

Gore-Tex

Answer 14

trade name for waterproof fabric that is able to breath by letting water vapour pass through it

Question 15

micro encapsulation

Answer 15

involves very thin fibres that hold chemicals in tiny capsules that are released when broken

Question 16

microfibres

Answer 16

thin synthetic fibres made from polyester or nylon

Question 17

LCD (liquid crystal display)

Answer 17

display surface in which electric currents of varying voltage are passed through it, altering passage of light

Question 18

Rhovyl

Answer 18

an anti-bacterial material that has antibacterial agents integrated into the fibre itself