Smart and Modern materials GRAPHICS

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Some modern materials are good for environment

Cornstarch polymers, potatopak and paper foam are all made from plants.

They're renewable.

They're biodegradable.

More sustainable alternative to plastics. Saves oil and less need for landfill waste.

Cornstarch polymers

Made from maize.

can be made clear, flexible for things like sandwich packaging and disposable cups etc.

can also be used for compostable bags

Potatopak

Made of dried potato starch which is baked inside of moulds

It's fairly rigid and lightweight

Good for plates, trays and packaging for food

Paper foam

Made of composite of paper fibres and potato starch.

It's lightweight and printable

Used in CD, DVD and phone packaging

Precious metal clay

Material containing particles of metal (often silver) in a binding material. Used to make jewelry.

Easy to work with. When heated the binding burns away and the metal fuses together to make a solid metal object. Then you can solder and polish it.

Smart materials react to their environment

Change to heat, light, pressure or something else.

They often change back to their original state when the thing affecting them is taken away.

With smart materials you can make completely new products.

Thermochromic

These change colour with heat

Thermochromic paints can be used to create images that change

Thermochromic inks can be used for warning patches to tell you if something is too hot. cheaper and more reliable than electronic heat warnings.