D&T

• Modern materials


  Not naturally occurring, have to have been developed, used alongside traditional materials
• Modern materials


  • Engineered to have improved properties
• Smart materials


  Modern materials that exhibit a physical change in response to some external stimuli, and return to original form when stimuli is removed
• Shape-memory alloys (SMA)


  • Metal alloys that can remember their shape when heated, used in spectacle frames
• Nickel titanium (nitinol)


  • Type of SMA that contracts when heated, used in braces
• Nanomaterials


  Tiny particles of 1 to 100 nanometres used in thin films or coatings
• Oleophobic coatings


  • Nanomaterials applied to repel oil and fingerprints on smartphone screens
• Hydrophobic materials


  • Nanomaterials applied to repel water
• Photochromic pigments


  Change properties when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light, used in glasses and windows
• Reactive glass


  Changes from transparent to opaque by passing current through an electrochromic material, used in privacy glass and auto-dimming rear view mirrors
• Piezoelectric material


  Can generate electricity when pressure is applied, used in keypad sensors, alarm systems and microphones
• Conductive inks


  Made from precious metal like silver, can be used to draw circuit diagrams that conduct current when dry
• Temperature-responsive polymers

  Respond to temperature change by displaying a change in property, used in medical field for controlled drug delivery