Smart Materials: Transforming Design Through Responsiveness
Definition
Smart Materials
Materials that respond to external stimuli (such as heat, light, pressure, or electricity) by changing one or more of their properties in a controlled, reversible, and repeatable way.
External stimuli include:
- Temperature
- Pressure
- Light
- Magnetic fields
- Electric fields
Key Types of Smart Materials
Piezoelectric Materials
Definition
Piezoelectricity
A property of certain smart materials that allows them to generate a small electrical charge when mechanically deformed, and to change shape (expand or contract) when an electric current is applied.
- Stimulus - Mechanical stress
- Response - Generates electrical charge (and vice versa)
- Sensors: Used in microphones and accelerometers.
- Actuators: Employed in precision movement devices like inkjet printers.
- Energy Harvesting: Converts vibrations into electricity for low-power devices.
Shape Memory Materials
Definition
Shape Memory Materials
A smart material that can be deformed and then return to its original, pre-set shape when exposed to a change in temperature or stress.
- Stimulus - Heat
- Response - Returns to original shape after deformation
- Common types:
- Shape Memory Alloys (SMAs)
- Shape Memory Polymers (SMPs)
- Medical Devices: Stents and orthodontic wires.
- Aerospace: Adaptive wing structures.
- Consumer Products: Eyeglass frames that return to shape after bending.
