Smart Materials

• What do smart materials respond to?

  Changes in their environment
• What are photochromic materials and their function?

  • Change color when exposed to light
  • Particularly sensitive to UV light
  • Trigger a reversible chemical reaction
  • Change color when light source is removed
• What happens to photochromic materials in dim light?

  They revert to their original color
• What are thermochromic materials and their function?

  • Change color in response to temperature
  • Color change is a reversible reaction
  • Specific to a temperature or temperature range
• What occurs when thermochromic materials are exposed to heat?

  They change color based on temperature
• How do photochromic materials differ from thermochromic materials?

  Photochromic responds to light, thermochromic to temperature
• If a material changes color when heated, what type of material is it likely to be?

  Thermochromic material
• What triggers the color change in photochromic materials?

  Exposure to UV light
• What is the nature of the chemical reaction in photochromic materials?

  It is reversible when light is removed
• What is the effect of bright light on photochromic materials?

  They change color
• What happens to thermochromic materials at a specific temperature?

  They undergo a color change