Smart Materials

A smart material is a material that can be controlled. It can be made to change its colour, size or shape and be returned to its original form at will.

Smart Materials The control input can be... Light change Temperature change Pressure Electric current

Smart Materials Photothermic ink changes colour when the temperature is raised above a certain level

Smart Materials Photothermic ink changes colour when the temperature is raised above a certain level

Smart Materials Photochromic ink changes colour when the light is raised above a certain level

Smart Materials Photochromic ink changes colour when the light is raised above a certain level

Smart Materials Phosphourescent material gives off a small amount of light that can be seen in the darkness.

Smart Materials Phosphourescent material gives off a small amount of light that can be seen in the darkness.

Smart Materials Electroluminescent material lights up when a very small electric current is passed through it. It doesn’t give off any heat.

Smart Materials This Conducting Polymer flexes like a muscle when a small electric current is passed through it.

Smart Materials This Conducting Polymer expands and contracts dramatically in response to a small electric current

Smart Materials This Piezoelectric material produces a small electric current in response to pressure

Smart Materials Shape Memory Alloys SMA’s have different molecular structures at different temperatures. If they are reshaped when cooled, they will return to their original shape at room temperature.

Smart Materials These glasses frames are made from the SMA Nitinol. If they are bent, the alloy will return to its original shape at room temperature. Shape Memory Alloys

Smart Materials This spoon has a nitinol section that bends immediately on contact with warm water Shape Memory Alloys

Smart Materials The Future... Plastics that conduct electricity –Using stainless steel fibres Environmentally friendly plastics –Manufactured without the use of nasty toxins Biodegradable plastics –Materials that have less impact on the environment Shape memory plastics –Change shape at particular temperatures

Smart Materials The Future... Nanotechnology –Engineering in miniature... with massive consequences? Over to you... –What next? Composite materials –Made by bonding two or more materials together

Smart Materials