Smart Materials and Their Applications

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Smart materials have special properties that change with external stimuli.

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Smart materials can change from one state to another due to external stimuli, either from a controlled source or environmental reaction.

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Nitinol frames for spectacles retain shape.

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Spectacle frames made from Nitinol keep their shape when squashed and return to their original shape when heated.

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Polymorph's application in electronics.

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Polymorph is used to create strong and durable components and fixings in electronic devices.

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Smart materials' environmental reaction.

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Smart materials can react to environmental changes, altering their state.

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Polymorph granules are melted in hot water at 60°C to form a malleable plastic.

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Polymorph can be shaped and hardens when cooled, making it ideal for prototyping and model making.

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Examples of composite materials include glass reinforced plastic (GRP) and carbon fibre.

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These composites combine materials to enhance properties like strength and rigidity.

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GRP is used in products like car bodywork, boat hulls, and aeroplane wings.

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Its strength-to-weight ratio makes it a useful material.

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Step ladders made from GRP are used in construction to prevent electric shock.

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GRP's electrical insulating properties make it suitable for such applications.

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Composite materials create new properties by combining different materials.

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This process allows for tailored material characteristics for specific uses.

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Catalysed lay-up resin is painted on to the tacky gelcoat surface.

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A sheet of fibreglass fabric or matting is stippled down on to the resin. More resin is added to ensure it is completely wetted out. The process is repeated until the laminate is of the required thickness.