Smart Materials

Question 1

Thermo-ceramics- properties and uses

Answer 1

Extremely hard and stable at high temperatures, have high heat resistance, are strong, don’t expand or deform. Don’t wear away and are lightweight.
Turbine blades in jet engines and turbochargers for race cars.

Question 2

Thermo-ceramics- advantages and disadvantages

Answer 2

Hard, stable, can be used at high temperatures without losing strength, are resistant to chemicals and corrosion, can be used in harsh chemical environments.
Brittle, can have imperfections like cracks.

Question 3

Shape memory alloys- properties and uses

Answer 3

Can remember their original shape and when heated or put under stress and return to it from a deformed state, has an elasticity characteristic.
Car and aeroplanes engines to remove the engine sounds by sealing and electrical generators to convert energy. Orthodontic wires and also glasses frames.

Question 4

Shape memory alloys- advantages and disadvantages

Answer 4

High strength and good elasticity, last a really long time due to their wear resistance.
Expensive and have low energy efficiency.

Question 5

Reactive glass- properties and uses

Answer 5

Changes from transparent to opaque by passing through an electrochromic material built into the glass.
Glasses and windows

Question 6

Reactive glass- advantages and disadvantages

Answer 6

Stops rooms from getting too hot and the light coming in and blinding the driver.
Expensive to manufacture and install. Time delay of photochromic.

Question 7

Liquid crystal displays- properties and uses

Answer 7

Lightweight, flexible, excellent resolution and brightness.
Calculators, TVs, laptops, mobile phones, digital watches and dashboards in cars.

Question 8

Liquid crystal displays- advantages and disadvantages

Answer 8

Doesn’t rely on phosphors, easy to dispose of, energy efficient , immune to screen image burn-in, lightweight and compact, screens are available in a wide range of sizes, sharp resolution, portable.
Colour and contrast from various viewing angles is inconsistent, motion blur is common, fixed resolution, expensive, images produced can be worse than regular cathode-ray tubes.

Question 9

Photochromic- properties and uses

Answer 9

Can change colour when exposed to different wavelengths of light: invisible when exposed to UV light, darken when exposed to UV light, return to clear when removed from UV light.
Sunglasses, windows, windscreens, light sensitive photographic paper.

Question 10

Photochromic- advantages and disadvantages

Answer 10

Protects the eyes from UV light, reacts exclusively to UV light.
Temperature dependant, that can become damaged if exposed to extreme temperatures, change is not instantaneous and can take time to adapt their colour.

Question 11

Thermochromic- properties and uses

Answer 11

Change colour due to a temperature change.
Thermometers, aquarium tanks, medical uses such as forehead thermometers, baby utensils and used to reveal graphics.

Question 12

Thermochromic- advantages and disadvantages

Answer 12

Colour change happens quickly, has no effect on user and pigments can be used in many other materials.
High cost, low colour density.

Question 13

Quantum tunnelling composites- properties and uses

Answer 13

Flexible polymer containing tiny metal particles, insulating and conducting
Mobile phones, pressure sensors, speed controllers.

Question 14

Quantum tunnelling composites- advantages and disadvantages

Answer 14

Malleable, easy to work with and durable.
Takes a long time to return to original state.