IGCSE Design & Technology

2S​ mart Material and Modern

Material
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2. Smart Material and Modern Material

● Smart materials​ are used to describe a wide range of material that are designed and
manufactured through scientific discoveries and are engineered for particular functions
● Modern material​ ​are manufactured to make changes to molecular level of structure or
using nanoparticles or inspired by nature known as biomimicry

Name Properties Uses

Shape Memory When deformed will return back to Stent in blood vessel which
Alloy (SMA) or original shape when heated (90°+) expand to correct size in
nitinol Contract when electricity current response to patient’s body
pass through it temperature.
Spectacle (glasses) frames
and denture

Shape Memory Deform in response to heat or Valves or pumps

Polymer (SMP) electric voltage

Thermochromic Changes colour in response to Forehead thermometer

Inks temperature strips and food packaging
to indicate food
temperature

Photochromic Inks Changes colour in response to light Shaded glasses that

level like ultraviolet and infrared darken in UV light
light

1
Lenticular sheet Embossed polymer sheet with Visual / aesthetic interest to
optical properties which make surface for illusion and 3D
surface appear deeper with pattern effect
or make images flicker or move

Polymorph Available in small pellets which fuse To prototype difficult

when heated and can be moulded shapes such as
to form tough polymer components joints and
handles by designer and
engineer

Smart grease Viscous gel which uniformly control Used to dampen

the movement between two friction movement on volume
surfaces control knobs, slowing
down and smoothing
rotation