Smart Materials

• Smart Materials are materials that react to an external stimulus or input, altering their functional or aesthetic properties in response to a changing environment.
• Smart Materials can respond to changes in heat, pressure, moisture, stress, pH levels, light (including UV) and electricity.
• Photochromic Pigments are colour changing materials that react to light, for example, glasses with reactive lenses that darken in sunlight.
• Thermochromic Pigments change colour in response to temperature, for example, bath plugs that change temperature when water is hot or cold, or clothing that reacts to the temperature of the wearer.
• Shape Memory Alloys (SMA) change shape when bent or deformed, returning to their original shape if heated, and their response is to changes in temperature.
• Shape Memory Alloys (SMA) are used in electrical door locks, braces, and surgical stents to expand blood vessels.