Smart Materials

By Sebastian Williams-Parry
 • Thermochromic
pigments are
pigments which can
be sensitive to
temperature. They
change colour when they
may be heated up or
cooled down
• Examples – Mugs, spoons
and cans

Thermochromic Pigments 
Thermochromic Film 
• Thermochromic film is a
sheet cloth printed with
a thermochromic liquid
crystal ink. This trade in
molecular
structure influences the
wavelengths of light that
are absorbed and
reflected by using the
liquid crystals.
The result is
an observed trade in colo
r as the temperature
changes.
• Examples - thermometers,
security printing
Phase change powder •
• Phase alternate substances (PC
M)
are substances that absorb a
nd release thermal strength 
at some stage
in the process of melting
and freezing. When a PCM
freezes, it releases
a massive amount of strengt
h in the shape of
latent heat at a
relatively constant temperat
ure.
These substances can absorb
 body heat, whilst the body c
ools, the material releases
the warmth keeping the
user heat or cooling them if
the manner is in reverse.
•
• Examples - thermometers,
security printing
 •

Shape-memory polymers
are polymeric smart
materials that have the
ability to return from a
deformed state to their
original shape induced by
an external stimulus, such
as temperature change.

Shape memory polymer

 • Known as viscos-elastic
polymer or dilatant
compound. This class
of material has the
remarkable property
that it usually behaves
as a soft mouldable
plastic but instantly
becomes a rubber if
impacted: i.e. it
bounces like a ball.
Smart putty
 • Memory Wire is one of the
easiest stringing materials
to use. Because of its hard
temper, it holds its shape.
Beadalon offer two types
of memory wire:
Remembrance Memory
Wire is stainless steel wire,
made into coils, and sized
for rings, bracelets, and
necklaces.

Memory Wire
 • A 2-way memory spring are
remarkable springs,
based on a brass alloys,
which ‘remember’ to
open up when heated
and close again when
cool. If immersed in hot
water at or around 90°C
they will open in a split
second and close as
quickly if dropped in cold
water.
2-way memory spring
Glow in the dark film
•

• Glow in the dark

film is a flexible
self-adhesive
plastic film that
glows brightly in
the dark.  It can
easily be cut by
hand and stuck
to a wide range
of materials.
Glow in the dark film
•
• Photochromic fluid.
This liquid is non-
toxic liquid paraffin
containing a UV
sensitive
photochromic dye.
• UV Beads are
extremely sensitive
to natural light and
change colour
dramatically from
white to various
colours when taken
outside – even on
an overcast day
 • Woven fabric is any
textile formed by
weaving. Woven
fabrics are often created
on a loom, and made of
many threads woven on
a warp and a weft.
Technically, a woven
fabric is any fabric
made by interlacing two
or more threads at right
Fibers and woven angles to one another.

materials
Polymorph •

•  Any organism
that shows
polymorphism.
Any substance
or mineral that
forms different
types of
crystal.
 • A hydrogel is a network of
polymer chains that are
hydrophilic, sometimes
found as a colloidal gel in
which water is the
dispersion medium. A
three-dimensional solid
results from the
hydrophilic polymer
chains being held
together by cross-links.
Hydrogel
 •

Chromatic Alginate • Chromatic dental alginate

 is a skin-safe, high
precision impression
material used for
impressions of body
parts, hands, feet and
teeth. It is non allergic
and safe for using on
the youngest child or
most delicate body
part as it is designed
for use in the mouth
to take dental
impression.
 • This material consists
of nano-size
silicon flakes each
covered with a titanium
compound.
The flakes possess
amazing light scattering
properties if mixed with
clear varnishes or
polymers. An object thus
coated will change colour
completely according to
the viewing angle.
Chameleon nano flakes
Quantum Tunneling •

• QTC Quantum-
Composite tunnelling
composite is a
flexible polymer
which contains
tiny metal
particles. It is
normally an
insulator but if it
is squeezed it
becomes a
conductor.
 • Smart film his highly
reflective film can be
combined with different
materials and coloured
substrates to provide
eye-catching visual
impact in both reflection
and transmission. The
colour of the film
depends on the base
material and the angle
from which it is viewed.
The film is made up of
over 250 layers of
polymer. Being metal-
Smart / radiant light free it is non corroding
and non conducting.
film