Smart materials

What are smart materials?

Materials whose physical properties change in response to an external stimuli

What are examples of external stimuli’s for smart materials?

• Heat (thermal energy)

• Electrical current

• Light

• moisture

• Deformation

How do SMA’s work and what are they used for?

Changes chape in response to a change in temperature or electrical input.

Used for dental braces or self-closing mechanical objects

How do thermochromic pigment’s work and what are they used for?

Changes colours in response to temperature change

Used for thermometers and color-changing products.

How do phosphorescent pigment’s work and what are they used for?

Absorbs light energy during the day and re-emits energy when in a dark room

Used for exit signs and glow-in-the-dark products

How do photochromatic pigment’s work and what are they used for?

Changes colour with light intensity

Used for welding goggles and reactive lenses

How do electroluminescent wire’s work and what are they used for?

Thin copper wire coated in a phosphorescent material that glows in response to an AC current.

Used for glow bracelets and decorative lighting.

How do piezoelectric material’s work and what are they used for?

Gives off a small electric charge when deformed. It also increases in size when an electrical current is passed through it

Used for airbag sensors and vibration damping