Smart Materials

Shape Memory Alloys

What are shape memory Alloys
This is a metal that remembers its original cold forged shape, returning when heated. This allows the metal to be bent, twisted and pulled before returning to its original form when the stresses have been removed. Aircraft Wings The shape memory wire is used to manipulate a flexible wing surface. The wire on the bottom of the wing is shortened through the shape memory effect, while the top wire is stretched bending the edge downwards, the opposite occurs when the wing must be bent upwards.

Thermo chromatic
What is Thermo Chromatic Technology
Thermo chromatic materials change their properties according to changes in temperature. The two common approaches are based on liquid crystals and leuco dyes. Liquid crystals are used in precision applications, as their responses can be engineered to accurate temperatures, but their colour range is limited by their principle of operation. Leuco dyes allow wider range of colours to be used, but their response temperatures are more difficult to set with accuracy.

Electroluminescence (EL)
Electroluminescence (EL) is an optical phenomenon and electrical phenomenon in which a material emits light in response to the passage of an electric current or to a strong electric field.

Electrochromatic
When an electrical charge is sent through the material it changes from clear to opaque. When this charge is no longer flowing through the material it will revert back to its original state.