Design and technology

• Smart materials


  Materials that change their properties in response to stimuli, and often return to their original state when the stimulus is removed
• Shape memory alloys


  Cool, but they return to their original shape
• Metal foams


  • Contain pockets of gas which make them lightweight, tough, and energy-absorbing
  • Their properties can be altered to suit different applications
• Metal foams


  • Used in lightweight car parts, ships, and medical implants
• Photochromic materials


  Materials that change colour in response to light exposure
• Photochromic materials


  • Used in spectacle lenses, t-shirt prints
• Thermochromic materials


  Materials that change colour in response to temperature changes
• Composites


  Materials made from two or more different materials bonded together, often with enhanced properties
• Composites


  • Glass-fibre reinforced plastic
  • Carbon-fibre reinforced plastic
• Composites


  • Stronger and tougher
  • Lighter and more heat-resistant
• Technical textiles


  Fabrics designed to be functional rather than aesthetic
• Technical textiles


  • Abrasion-resistant fabrics for protective clothing
  • Fire-resistant fabrics like Nomex
  • Fabrics with microcapsules for functional chemicals
  • Conductive fabrics for integrating electronics
• Modern materials have useful properties built in, smart materials react to changes in the environment