Smart and Modern Materials

• Smart materials alter their properties based on external factors like temperature, light, or pressure.

Smart Materials

• Shape Memory Alloys (SMA) revert to their original shape when heated; Nitinol in braces exemplifies this.
• Thermochromic Pigments change color with temperature; mood rings and baby spoons utilize this property.
• Photochromic Pigments change color when exposed to light; transition lenses in glasses use this technology.
• Hydrogels can absorb significant amounts of water, commonly found in nappies and wound dressings.
• Polymorph is a plastic that softens at low temperatures and is suitable for modeling and repairs.

Modern Materials

• Modern materials possess engineered properties tailored for specific applications.
• Kevlar is strong and lightweight, used in bulletproof vests.
• Graphene is exceptionally strong, conductive, thin, and featured in flexible electronics.
• Titanium is lightweight, strong, corrosion-resistant, and used in aircraft and medical implants.
• Carbon Fiber is strong but light, making it useful in sports equipment and cars.
• Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs) appear in screens.

Plastics

• Plastics are divided into thermoplastics and thermosetting plastics.

Thermoplastics

• Thermoplastics can be reshaped when heated.
• Acrylic is strong, transparent, and used in signs and displays.
• Polypropylene (PP) is flexible, tough, and used in food containers.
• Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) is for pipes and window frames.
• Polystyrene (PS) is for packaging and disposable cups.
• Nylon is tough and used in clothing and gears.

Thermosetting Plastics

• Thermosetting Plastics cannot be reshaped once set.
• Epoxy Resin is suitable for adhesives and coatings.
• Melamine Formaldehyde is in kitchen surfaces.
• Urea Formaldehyde is in electrical fittings.
• Polyester Resin is in boats and car bodies.

Thermoforming Plastics (Thermoplastics)

• Thermoforming plastics soften upon heating and are repeatedly reshapeable.
• These plastics are for products requiring molding, vacuum forming, or injection molding.
• Acrylic is hard, shiny, transparent, and utilized in signs and car lights.
• Polypropylene (PP) is flexible, tough, and appears in food containers and chairs.
• High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) is strong, resistant to chemicals, and used in bottles and pipes.
• Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) is durable, weatherproof, and used in window frames and pipes.
• Polystyrene (PS) is lightweight, easy to shape, and used in packaging and disposable cups.
• Thermoforming plastics are recyclable because they can be reheated and reshaped.

Thermosetting Plastics (Thermosets)

• Thermosetting plastics permanently harden when heated and cannot be reshaped afterward.
• Thermosets are strong, heat-resistant, and durable, but not recyclable.
• Epoxy Resin is a strong adhesive utilized in glue and coatings.
• Melamine Formaldehyde is heat-resistant and appear in kitchen surfaces and plates.
• Urea Formaldehyde is an electrical insulator in plugs and switches.
• Polyester Resin is hard, waterproof material in car bodies and boats.
• Phenol Formaldehyde (Bakelite) is heat-resistant and used in saucepan handles and electrical fittings.
• Thermosetting plastics are for high-heat and high-strength applications, given that they cannot be reshaped.