Smart materials

Smart material: a material that responds to an external stimuli such as pressure, temperature or light

Shape memory alloy:

  • SMA's return to their original shape when heat is applied


    • Advantages Disadvantages
    • Good mechanical properties
    • Flexible
    • Lightweight
    • Durable
    • Expensive
    • Can be overstressed
    • Poor fatigue properties
    • Difficult to repair

    Uses: Braces, spectacles, planes, tweezers

    Thermochromic materials:

  • change colours depending on temperature conditions


    • Advantages Disadvantages
    • Multiple uses
    • Reacts to environment
    • Broad range of colours
    • Expensive
    • Sometimes doesn't fully react
    • Hard to make
    • Takes time to fully react

    Uses: Baby spoons, coffee mugs, batterys (charged or not)

    Photochromic materials:

  • change colours depending on light conditions (e.g. classes that also act as sunglasses)


    • Advantages Disadvantages
    • Multiple uses
    • Reacts to environment
    • Reversible reaction
    • Expensive
    • Sometimes doesn't fully react

    Uses: Sunglasses, security sensors, UV light warning sensor, welding masks

    Topic test:

    Smart Materials Questions (Click to Download)

    Interactive flashcards:

    Flashcards – Smart Materials (Click to Revise)