09. Smart Materials

What do smart materials have?

Properties that change reversibly with a change in their environment

Property and use of thermochromic pigments

Change colour with temperature, mugs that change colour

What change colour with temperature?

Thermochromic pigments

Property and use of photochromic pigments

Change colour with light intensity, holiday t shirt designs

What change colour with light intensity?

Photochromic pigments

Property and use of hydrogels / polymer gels

Absorb / expel water and shrink / swell due to changes in pH or temperature, baby nappies

What absorb / expel water and shrink / swell due to changes in pH or temperature?

Hydrogels / polymer gels

Property and use of shape memory alloys

Plastics which regain their original shape when heated, kettle springs

What are plastics which regain their original shape when heated?

Shape memory alloys

Property and use of shape memory polymers

Metals which regain their original shape when heated, gum shields

What are metals which regain their original shape when heated?

Shape memory polymers