Smart and Modern Materials

Question 1

What is a smart material?

Answer 1

A material whose properties change in response to an input

Question 2

Why do designers use smart materials?

Answer 2

Used in products to make them safer or simpler to use

Question 3

What do thermochromic paints do?

Answer 3

Changes colour in heat

Question 4

What are thermochromic paints used in?

Answer 4

Textiles, card based products + ceramics
Thermochromatic pigment added to polymers and react to certain temperatures - safety spoons, bowls for babies

Question 5

What do photochromatic materials do?

Answer 5

Reacts to changes in light

Question 6

What are photochromatic materials used in?

Answer 6

Reaction lenses that darken in sunlight

Question 7

What do electrochromatic materials do?

Answer 7

Changes colour or opacity when voltage is applied

Question 8

What are electrochromatic materials used in?

Answer 8

Liquid crystal displays in digital technology
Smart goggles and motorcycle helmets (controlled by a touch of a button)

Question 9

What do hydrochromic materials do?

Answer 9

Changes colour with water

Question 10

What are hydrochromic materials used in?

Answer 10

Nappies
Apple products have it in the charging socket

Question 11

What do SMA materials do?

Answer 11

Shape Memory Alloys
Change shape with heat and return to original shape when heated

Question 12

What are SMA materials used in?

Answer 12

Spectacle frames

Question 13

What do phosphorescent materials do?

Answer 13

Glow in the dark

Question 13

What do polymorph thermoplastic materials do?

Answer 13

Can be reheated and reused

Question 14

What are phosphorescent materials used in?

Answer 14

Safety lighting, signs, faces of watches, clocks
Absorbs daylight stores and releases in darkness

Question 15

What are polymorph thermoplastic materials used in?

Answer 15

Prototyping
Ergonomic grips

Question 16

What is a modern material?

Answer 16

Technical materials that have been manufactured for function

Question 17

What are some features of graphene?

Answer 17

Strong material, flexible, conductor of heat and electricity

Question 18

How does graphene help other materials?

Answer 18

Improves the strength of other materials - only requires a small amount (light weight)

Question 19

What are graphene composites used in?

Answer 19

Aerospace, building materials + mobile devices

Question 20

What is titanium used to do?

Answer 20

Alloyed with other metals to enhance properties

Question 21

What is titanium used for?

Answer 21

Artificial joints + dental implants

Question 22

What are some features of titanium?

Answer 22

Anti-corrosive, good strength to weight ratio, pure titanium doesn’t react to the human body

Question 23

What are some features of metal foams?

Answer 23

Strong, light weight, electrical + thermal conductors and absorbs sound well

Question 24

How are metal foams made?

Answer 24

Injecting gas into a liquid metal such as aluminium or titanium

Question 25

What are metal foams used in?

Answer 25

Crumple zones in transport + transport structures

Question 26

What are nano materials?

Answer 26

Between 1-100 nanometers

Question 27

What are nanoparticles used in?

Answer 27

Manufacture of cars - faster, safer and greater fuel efficiency Can be used to produce more efficient lighting and insulating systems

Question 28

What does fibre optics do?

Answer 28

Transmits data via fast-traveling pulses of light A layer of cladding is wrapped around the central fibre causing light to repeatedly bounce off the walls

Question 29

How does cladding help fibre optics?

Answer 29

Prevents light from leaking out the edges, signal goes further

Question 30

What is a biopolymer?

Answer 30

Plastics derived from natural sources such as starch, sugar and cellulose Can biodegrade