smart and modern materials-1.1 Flashcards
what are smart materials?
Materials which can react to external stimuli/changes in their environment- such as temperature, light levels, and pressure (force)
what are the three things which smart materials can react to?
- temperature
- light levels
- pressure (force)
what can some smart materials do?
-monitor body functions such as body temperature and give warnings
-maintain a personal micro-climate
-have chromatic properties and change colours in response to specific stimuli (such as baby spoons that change colour when heat is detected)
-have shape memory which adjusts to different temperatures
-are self cleaning
-can generate solar power when in direct sunlight
what are some examples of modern materials?
-microencapsulated fibres (e.g fibres that release scents or beneficial chemicals such as moisturising tights)
-microfibres
what happens to textiles that are finished with phosphorescent dyes?
they glow in the dark
what is a microencapsulated fibre?
a microfibre which has tiny capsules containing chemicals embedded into it’s hollow center
what is a nano fibre?
an extremely light weight, strong fibre that is less than one micron in diameter
what is used to produce nano fibres?
ceramic and carbon fibres
why are ceramic and carbon fibres used in the production of nano fibres?
because they are extremely lightweight and strong
how are nano fibres produced?
using an electro-spinning process. the fibres are then collected in the form of sheets that resemble non woven felt
what are carbon fibres used in the production of?
electro-conductive fibres
what can gore-tex be used for?
Outdoor clothing
what are the properties of gore-tex?
-water repellent/water proof
-windproof
-lightweight
-breathable
The chemicals in micro-encapsulated fibres are…
released slowly and absorbed through the skin of the wearer. The chemicals break down slowly, so the effects last a long time
what are the uses for micro-encapsulated fibres?
for cosmetic and health reasons
