smart materials
Environment-sensing engineered matter
Smart materials are substances engineered to change their properties in response to external stimuli—temperature, pressure, electric fields, or light.
Shape-memory alloys return to a preset form when heated.
Piezoelectric materials generate electricity when stressed.
These materials appear in aerospace, medicine, and robotics: The smart material stiffens on impact to absorb the shock.
- nanomaterialsUltrasmall engineered matter
- temperature sensitiveAltered by heat levels
- sensorsDevices that detect input
- semiconductorsPartially conductive materials
- biomaterialsMaterials interfacing with living systems
composites · actuators · thermochromic · color changing · nanotechnology · self-healing · polymers · material science · supercapacitors · fuel cells · stimulus · 3D printing · morphing · piezoelectric · chameleon · nitinol · ceramics · responsive