Nano-science and Smart Materials

• What is the range for nanoparticles?

  1-100 nanometers
• What are nanoparticles?

  Tiny particles
• What do nano-scale particles have?

  Very different properties from the normal form of substances
• What is nano-silver good at?

  Killing bacteria and viruses
• What is nano-silver used for?

  Anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal
• What does anti-bacterial mean?

  Killing or inhibiting the growth of bacteria.
• What does anti-viral mean?

  Against viruses
• What does anti-fungal mean?

  Against fungi
• What’s a form of anti-fungal nanoparticles?

  Using anti-fungal socks
• What’s an example of anti-bacterial nanoparticles?

  In deodorants to prevent bacteria
• What’s an example of anti-viral nanoparticles?

  Drug delivery throughout the body
• What do anti-bacterial, fungal and viral have in common?

  They’re all nano-silver
• What is bulk silver mainly used in?

  Jewellery
• What can nano-particles also be used for?

  Suncream
• How can nano-particles work in suncream?

  They block harmful UV light and prevent sunburn and skin cancer
• Why are there issues with using nano-particles?

  Scientists don’t know the long term effects
• Why don’t scientists know the long term effects of nanoparticles?

  They are relatively new in use
• Why are there concerns with using nanoparticles in our bodies?

  They're so small they could easily enter our skin, bloodstream and our cells
• What are the risks of using nanoparticles?

  • The long term effects are unknown
  • They can penetrate the skin
  • They can be easily released to the environment
• Smart materials are materials that have properties which change reversibly depending on changes in their surroundings
• What can thermochromic pigment do?

  They change colour at specific temperatures
• What are some examples of thermochromic smart materials?

  Baby spoons and thermometers
• What are the smart materials?

  • Thermochromic
  • Photochromic
  • Shape memory polymer
  • Shape memory alloy
  • Hydrogels
• What do thermochromic materials respond to?

  Heat
• What do photochromic materials respond to?

  Light
• What are photochromic materials?

  Materials that change colour when exposed to light
• What are some example of photochromic materials?

  • Water bottles
  • Sunglass transition lenses
• What is a shape memory polymer?

  Polymer that returns to its original shape when heated.
• What do shape memory polymers respond to?

  Heat
• What’s an example of a shape memory polymer?

  • Glasses frames
  • Stents
• What is a shape memory alloy?

  A metal that returns to its original shape when heated
• What do shale memory alloys respond to?

  Heat
• Whats an example of a shape memory alloy?

  Nitinol- in springs and braces
• What can hydrogels do?

  Absorb up to 1000 times their own volume in water
• What happens after water has been absorbed into a hydrogel?

  It can be released when its surroundings are dry
• What do hydrogels respond to?

  Water/liquid
• What are some examples of hydrogels?

  • Nappies
  • Magic snow
  • Pads