Smart Materials Flashcards
Smart Material
Materials that react to a change in their environment
Technical Textiles
Materials engineered with specific performance characteristics for a particular purpose or function
Composites
Two or more materials (matrix and reinforcement) joined together to create new enhanced material
Rhovyl
Non-flammable, synthetic, crease resistant, thermal, anti-bacterial, comfortable, dries quickly, doesn’t retain odours
e.g. socks
Geotextiles
Works with soil to filter, separate, protect, drain
Woven or bonded, synthetic or natural, permeable
e.g. coastal defences, civil engineering (roads), embankments
Nomex
Aramid (strong, non-flammable), extremely strong, withstands extreme conditions
e.g. firefighters’ uniforms, racing drivers’ clothing
Sun-protective clothing
Tightly woven/knitted so gaps between yarns are small to prevent UV rays from getting through
Elastane fibres added to further reduce spaces
Breathable fabrics (e.g. Gore-Tex)
Three or more fabrics laminated together with hydrophilic membrane in the middle - stops water (rain) passing through but air and tiny droplets (sweat) can permeate
e.g. high performance clothing and footwear (regulates body temperature)
Phase-changing materials
Change state and can store and release heat over small temperature range
Absorb energy during heating and release during cooling
e.g. cold weather clothing (stores body heat)
Microfibres
Lightweight, synthetic, usually polyester or nylon, extremely fine, excellent strength-to-weight ratio, breathable, water-resistant
e.g. clothing, cleaning cloths
Interactive textiles
Electronic circuits integrated into textiles to interact with the wearer
Conductive fibres woven in to connect a circuit
e.g. monitor heart rate, body temp
Glass reinforced plastic
Composite of glass fibres and polyester resin, rigid, tough, lightweight
Difficult to recycle
e.g. surfboards, canoes, car bodywork
Kevlar
Lightweight, flexible, durable, aramid, excellent heat resistance, corrosion resistant, chemical resistant, high tensile strength-to-weight
e.g. police body armour (woven into lattice to protect against knife attacks)
Carbon fibre reinforced polymer
Woven carbon fibre strands encased in polymer resin
High tensile strength, lightweight, rigid
e.g. sports equipment, tennis racket
Biomimetics
Materials inspired from structures from natural world
e.g. Fastskin (Speedo) swimwear mimics shark sandpaper-like skin by reducing drag in water
Micro-encapsulation
Microscopic capsules applied to fibres, fabrics or papers
Contain vitamins, oils, anti-bacterial chemicals etc which are released through friction
e.g. ski uniforms, military clothing
Thermochromic pigments
Change colour in response to heat change
e.g. baby bottles (show if milk is too hot)
Photochromic pigments
Change colour in response to light change
e.g. sunglasses (darker in response to UV radiation)
Shape memory alloys
Return to original shape if heated e.g. nitinol made of titanium and nickel
e.g. medical fastenings for bone fractures
Quantum tunnelling composite
Flexible polymers that contain conductive nickel particles which contact each other when force is applied which makes the material conductive when under pressure
e.g. switches on mobile phones
Electroluminescent material
Show visible light when exposed to AC current. Made from thin copper wire coated in phosphor powder
e.g. thin film on electrical applications, replacing LCD displays as they are flexible, reliable and do not generate heat
