Modern + Smart materials

Modern + Smart materials

1. Modern

   • Modern materials are new materials developed to have properties that are useful when designing and making products.
   • Graphine
     • Graphene is a very thin two-dimensional material layer of carbon
     • solar cells
       • due to its high conductivity and transparency
         • although, it's not very good at collecting the electrical current produced inside the solar cell
     • ink
       • made by mixing tiny graphene flakes with ink, enabling you to print onto paper and use this print to conduct electricity
         • other materials were previously used, but graphine has significantly improved efficiency
     • very strong and very light
   • Metal foam
     • can vary from: steel, aluminium, and titanium
       • aluminium
         • becomes a foam when gas is injected into the metal during liquid state
         • sound proofing
           • absorbs and dampens sounds
         • crash proofing
           • as it's lightweight, it doesn't slow down the car
           • a porous material that can absorb energy well
         • high compressive strength
   • Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)
     • a laminated material of two layers of glass with a liquid crystal core that lets light go through when a voltage is applied, or blocks the light when the voltage switched off
     • flat screen
     • computer monitor
       • for low light conditions such as this, backlights are required to increase readability
   • Nano materials
     • titanium dioxide
       • sunscreen
         • effective protection against UVA/UVB rays from the sun, which creates a physical barrier between the sun's rays and the skin
       • however it has been linked to cancer wjhen inhaled
     • synthetic amorphous silica
       • semiconductor circuit
         • it's used to isolate different conducting regions
       • microelectronics
         • its mechanical resistance, high dielectric strength, and selectivity for chemical modification have made it perfect for this
   • Cornstarch polymer
     • disposable cutlery
       • decompose within a shorter time than oil-based polymers
         • reduces the impact on the environment after use
     • made from polylactic acid found in high starch vegetables
       • e.g. potatoes, corn, maize
     • food packaging
       • food safe
       • they don’t take as much energy to produce
   • Teflon
     • AKA polytetrafluoroethene or PTFE
     • pans
       • the teflon coating is a very slippery material
     • clothing
       • makes it difficult for dirt to stick to the fabric
     • chemical containers
       • unreactive with chemicals

2. Smart

   • Smart materials are materials that are manipulated to respond in a controllable and reversible way, modifying some of their properties as a result of external stimuli
   • Thermochromic pigments
     • They change colour when subjected to a certain variation in temperature, light, pressure, etc.
     • glasses
       • patented photochromic dyes
         • these enable the lenses to adapt to the strength of UV rays emitted, varying in darkness best protect the wearer without affecting how they see
   • Shape memory alloys (SMAs)
     • They have the ability to change the shape, even returning to their original shape, when exposed to a heat source, among other stimuli
     • electric door lock
       • compression keeps SMA wire stretched and bolt in 'locked' position
     • orthodontic wires
       • super-elasticity, high ductility, and resistance to corrosion
   • Photochromic pigments
     • they change colour based on exposure to light
       • electroluminescents emit light when they are fed with electrical impulses
         • over time the light output decays - this affects different colours at different rates, resulting in the reduction of the useful lifespan of the product.
       • fluorescents reflect light with greater intensity
         • lamps
       • phosphorescents are able to emit light after the initial source has ceased
         • glow in the dark toys
   • Aroma pigments
     • inks or paints that produce an aroma when scratched
       • micro spheres with absorbed aroma pigment are fractured when scratched, releasing the scent
         • this is why the scent is limited to a number of scratches
     • magazines
       • perfume samples that encourage people to buy the product
     • stickers
       • scratch and sniff that usually bring joy to children
   • Magnetorheological materials
     • They change their properties when exposed to a magnetic field
     • fluids
       • Liquids that harden or change shape when they feel a magnetic field
         • shock absorbers
           • control of vibration & motion
         • variable resistance equiptment
         • seat dampers
     • elastomers
       • Tunable dynamic vibration absorbers
       • vehicles
         • reducing shudder
     • gels
       • has a great deal of flexibility
   • Piezoelectric materials
     • They can convert mechanical energy into electrical energy and vice versa
     • blowtorch
       • mechanical shock is converted into electricity
     • sonar equiptment
       • piezoelectric sensors to transmit and receive ultrasonic “pings” in the 50-200kHz range
       • high power density that enables large amounts of acoustic power to be transmitted from a small package