New materials + POLYMERS

New materials + POLYMERS

1. Nanoparticles

   • Tiny particles 1-100 nanometers across
   • contain a few hundred atoms
   • fullerenes
     • molecules of carbon- shaped like hollow balls. carbons are arranged in hexagonal rings
     • join together= nanotubes (hollow carbon tubes
       • Covalent bonds very strong
   • different properties from the 'bulk' chemical it is made from. e.g. fullerenes have very different properties from big big lumps of carbon
   • uses
     • Huge area to volume ratio= could help make new catalysts
     • used to make stronger, lighter building materials
     • sensors
     • cosmetics

2. Smart materials

   • behave differently depending on conditions
   • example
     • nitinol- ''shape memory alloy''
       • half nickel half titanium
       • You can bend it when its cool and it stays bent- if you heat it above a certain temperature it goes back to a ''remembered shape''
       • uses
         • Glasses frames when you accidentally ben them
         • dental braces- warms in the mouth and tries to a ''remembered'' shape. It gently pulls the teeth with it

3. Polymers

   • Lots of molecules covalently joined together in long chains

Images and files in the map