1. Smart Materials & Adhesives
AQA Graphic Products

2. Smart Materials Material Description Example Photo-chromic inks
Light sensitive – change colour depending on light
Sunglasses – gets darker with more light / UV
Thermo-chromic inks
Temperature sensitive – change colour depending on temperature
A kettle – changes when hot
Hydro-chromic inks
Change colour as they dry out
Umbrella – changes when wet
Phosphorescent inks
Glows in the dark – absorbs energy quickly fro light, radiates light slowly when dark
Night lights, emergency exit strips
Shape memory alloys (SMA’s)
Will return to their original shape when current is passed through them.
Cable ties in the telecoms industry
Polymorph
Softens at 62 degrees C. Usually sold in bead form.
Prototype models
Piezoelectric
Changes a movement into an electrical signal
An electric drum kit

3. Modern Materials Material Description Example Cornstarch polymers
Seems like a plastic. When immersed in water will completely biodegrade.
Inner tray to hold chocolates – can be vacuum formed
Paper foam
Seems like a plastic. Lightweight, strong and biodegradable.
CD and DVD packaging – used in injection moulding.
Potatopak
Biodegradable, can be used as pig food!
Packaging trays

4. Thermochromic Inks Inks that change colour with temperature
Useful on marketing materials
Has your egg been hot enough
for long enough?
Interesting gimmicks !
A 2d temperature gauge

5. Photochromic Materials
Materials that change colour when exposed to light
Possible Applications:
energy-efficient windows that switch from transparent to opaque spontaneously upon exposure to increasing levels of sunlight

6. Phosphoresectn inks

7. Polymorph Supplied as granules
When heated to 62 degrees or above in water they form a ply able solid
Useful for forming :
handles/grips
Complex shapes
Prototype patterns for casting or moulding
Completing complex assemblies

8. Piezoelectric Materials
2 unique properties
When deformed, they generate a small but measurable electrical current.
When an electrical current is applied, they change size

9. Adhesives Adhesive Uses Tensol cement (solvent cement)
Fixes acrylic to acrylic. Chemically welds the two parts together
Epoxy resin
A two-part mix and is used for joining parts that are made from different materials together
PVA
A strong fix between wood products. Will take time to set
Masking Tape
Temporary fixing

10. Adhesives Adhesive Uses Hot glue gun
A quick way of fixing different materials together
Double-sided tape
A fixing for most materials. The strength of the bond varies between different brands of tape
Spray adhesive
Fixes large areas of paper and card
Glue sticks
General purpose

11. Temporary Fastenings Drawing pins Mapping pins
Paper fasteners fix moving parts
Paper clips
Rubber bands

12. Task 1
Thermochromatic ink changes colour and reacts to changes in temperature and heat.
List five products around the home that would have a safety benefit if thermochromatic inks were applied. For example, hair straighteners could have ink applied to the heating plates. This would indicate if they were still warm and act as a caution when picking them up.
Choose one item from your list and illustrate this with a pictorial drawing.
Label where the thermochromatic ink would be placed and state what would happen when heated or cooled.

13. Task 2
Match up the title with the description, then match the uses for the adhesives