Smart Materials

Question 1

What are thermo-ceramics?

Answer 1

Advanced ceramic materials that have characteristics that make them useful in specialist engineering

Question 2

How are thermo-ceramics produced?

Answer 2

1) Combine ceramic and metallic powders by sintering
2) Powders heated and placed in die
3) Subjected to high pressure until particles bond

Question 3

Give 3 advantages of thermo-ceramics

Answer 3

Stable at high temperatures
Extremely hard
Strong

Question 4

Give 2 disadvantages of thermo-ceramics

Answer 4

Brittle

Expensive

Question 5

What are the applications of thermo-ceramics?

Answer 5

Jet engines
Turbine blades
Turbochargers

Question 6

What is photochromic glass?

Answer 6

Glass that gets darker when exposed to UV light

Question 7

How is photochromic glass made?

Answer 7

Impregnated with silver halide and encapsulated within the glass to make it reversible

Question 8

What are solar panels?

Answer 8

Solar cells that generate electricity

Question 9

How do solar panels work?

Answer 9

Cells are exposed to sunlight
One layer becomes electron rich, other becomes deficient
Electron flow is set up between two layers, creating a voltage

Question 10

How are solar panels constructed?

Answer 10

Thin layers of silicon that have impurities added

Question 11

Give an advantage of solar panels

Answer 11

Renewable energy source

Question 12

Give 2 disadvantages of solar panels

Answer 12

Low voltage created, multiple cells needed

High cost of manufacture and installation