11 Smart Materials

A material that is sensitive to temperature 

• leuco dyes 
• Thermocromic

A material that is sensetive to light 

• Photochromic 
• Thermochromic 

These materials react and change with a physical change in their environment e.g. heat, light, electrical current.

• Smart Materials
• Modern materials
• Nano materials
• New Materials

Pigments react to changes in temperature

• Thermochromic
• Photochromic 

Pigments react to changes in Light

• Thermochromic
• Photochromic 

I am a smart material that is easily bent when cool but jump back into shape when heated above a certain temperature eg. nitinol

• Shape memory Alloys
• Nano Materials
• Ceramics
• Cornstarch polymers

I change colour with heat
-eg. a mug

• Thermoset
• Shape memory alloys
• Thermochromic materials
• Tungsten

Respond to changes in temperature by changing colour, t-shirts, mugs and temperature strips

• Nanomaterials
• Thermochromic materials
• Integrated electronics
• Thermochronic Materials

They change colour depending on the amount of light hitting the surface. By far the most common use of this is in light-sensitive glasses, such as sunglasses.

• Reflective Films
• Phosphorescent pigments
• Holograms
• Photochromic Materials