Smart materials

Question 1

Smart material definition

Answer 1

Materials that respond automatically to their changes in environment

Question 2

What are examples of possible changes to smart material environments

Answer 2

Light
Temperature
Electrical current
Pressure
Motion

Question 3

Electroluminescent wire (EL)

Answer 3

Thin copper wire
Coated in phosphor
Produces light through electroluminescent
When alternating current is applied

Question 4

Electroluminescence advantages and uses

Answer 4

They don’t generate heat and are flexible and reliable
Common uses:
Night lights
Watch illumination

Question 5

What is QTC

Answer 5

Insulating rubber
Containing tiny particles of metal
Insulator when resting
Conductor when pressure is applied(when squashed the metal particles meet and allow electrical
current to flow)

Question 6

QTC uses

Answer 6

Wearable tech that needs switches and handheld power tools for variable control speed

Question 7

Sma- shape memory alloy

Answer 7

1. Fold SMA around steel Jake and past current through it
2. Change shape of SMA wire
3. Place in hot water
4. SMA returns to program shape.

Question 8

SMA- material and uses

Answer 8

Nitinol- titanium and nickel
Possible uses are for medical applications such as fastening in bone fractures and braces

Question 9

How to makePolymorph

Answer 9

Heated at 62° the polymer becomes pliable and can be moulded. Once left a call it becomes solid but can be reheated.

Question 10

Polymorph uses

Answer 10

Making models and prototyping

Question 11

Photochromic pigments

Answer 11

They change colour in response to change
For example: sunglasses can change colour in response to UV radiation

Question 12

Thermochromic pigment

Answer 12

Changes colour response to change in heat and can be engineered to specific heat range

Question 13

Biomimicry inspiration of Velcro

Answer 13

Burdock
1940s
Invented after trying to remove bears from his dogs fur
And seeing the quality of the hooking barbs

Question 14

Biomimicry inspiration of fast skin

Answer 14

Mimics the shark sandpaper like skin
Reducing dragging the water
Used for performance enhancing swimwear

Question 15

microencapsulation

Answer 15

Microscopic capsules to fibres, fabrics and materials
Example: Kleenex bombs tissue lead behind a protective balm

Question 16

Types of encapsulation particles

Answer 16

Biodegradable polymeric materials
Lipsomeses and lipid nano particles
Core Shell coacervates
Hydrogel
Meso-parous silica

Question 17

Uses of microencapsulation

Answer 17

Pharmaceutical cosmetics fragrance and skincare