ABSTRACT

Smart materials, called also intelligent or responsive materials, are designed

materials that have one or more properties that can be significantly changed in a
controlled fashion by external stimuli, such as stress, temperature, moisture, pH,
electric or magnetic fields, light, or chemical compounds. Smart Materials are the
basis of many applications, including sensors and actuators, or artificial muscles,
particularly as electrically activated polymers.

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 TABLE OF CONTENT

CONTENT Page no.

LIST OF FIGURE 3
Chapter 1 4
INTRODUCTION OF SMART MATERIALS
1.1 SMART MATERIAL-DEFINITION
1.2 SMART MATERIALS-EFFECTS
1.3 CLASSIFICATION OF SMART MATERIALS
1.4 PROPERTIES OF SMART MATERIALS
1.5 WORKING OF SMART MATERIAL
Chapter 2 6
PIEZOELECTRIC MATERIALS
2.1 WHAT ARE PIEZOELECTRIC MATERIALS
2.2 PIEZOELECTRIC SENSOR
2.3 PIEZOELECTRIC ACTUATOR
2.4 FORMS OF PIEZO MATERIALS
2.5 APPLICATIONS OF PIEZOELECTRIC
2.6 ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES
Chapter 3 7
SHAPE MEMORY ALLOYS
3.1 HISTORY OF SMA
3.2 INTRODUCTION
3.3 SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM UNDER TEMPERATURE
3.4 SHAPE MEMORY EFFECT EXAMPLE
3.5 ADVANTAGES AND DIS ADVANTAGES
Chapter 4 9
THERMO CHROMIC MATERIALS
4.1 WHAT ARE THERMO CHROMIC MATERIALS?
4.2 THE PRINCIPLE...
4.3 APPLICATIONS
Chapter 5 10
ELECTRO CHROMIC MATERIALS
5.1WHAT ARE ELECTRO CHROMIC MATERIALS?
5.2 APPLICATIONS
Chapter 6 11
SMART GELS
6.1 WHAT ARE SMART GELS?
6.2 APPLICATION OF HYDROGEL
Chapter 7 12
AEROGEL
7.1 WHAT ARE AEROGEL?
7.2 TYPES OF AEROGEL
7.3 SYNTHESIS OF AEROGEL
7.4 APPLICATIONS
Chapter 8 13
SELF HEALING CONCRETE
8.1 WHAT IS SELF HEALING CONCRETE?
8.2 WORKING OF SELF HEALING CONCRETE
8.3 APPLICATIONS
Chapter 9 14
LIGHT TRANSMITTING CONCRETE
9.1 WHAT ARE LIGHT TRANSMITTING CONCRETE?
9.2 PRINCIPLE
9.3 WORKING PRINCIPLE
CONCLUSION 17
REFERENCES 18

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 LIST OF FIGURES

Figure Figure Page

No. No.
1 Piezoelectric Materials 6
2 SMA Phase Graph 7
3 Different Phase Of An SMA 7
4 Shape Memory Effect Example 8
5 Thermo Chromic Materials At High Temperature 9
6 Thermo Chromic Materials At Low Temperature 9
7 Electro Chromic Smart Window Off 10
8 Electro Chromic Smart Window On 10
9 Smart Gels Stimuli Action 10
10 Functioning Of Smart Gel 11
11 Aerogel 11
12 Synthesis Of Aerogel 12
13 Self Healing Concrete 12
14 Genus Bacillus Bacteria 13
15 Working Of Self Healing Concrete 13
16 Light Transmitting Concrete 13
17 Total Internal Reflection In Optical Fiber 14

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 Chapter One
INTRODUCTION OF SMART MATERIALS

1.1 SMART MATERIAL-DEFINITION

Material which has the intrinsic or extrinsic capabilities to respond to an external stimulus in a
functionally useful manner. Also called functional materials. E.g.: Zinc oxide varistors (ZNO)
A material can be considered smart when an input stimulus of a variable changes the output of
other variables not given as input
OR
A material is smart if a specific response is produced to a combination of inputs.
OR
Smart or intelligent materials are materials that have to respond to stimuli and environmental changes
and to activate their functions according to these changes.
The stimuli like temperature, pressure, electric flow, magnetic flow, light, mechanical, etc can
originate internally or externally.

1.2 SMART MATERIALS-EFFECTS

ACTUATOR:-The
actuators are used to
change the
properties of the
smart structure in
order to achieve the
desired response.

• SENSOR EFFECT (DIRECT EFFECT) SENSOR:-To

monitor
environment
changes and
generate signals
proportional to the
changing
measurement.

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1.3 CLASSIFICATION OF SMART MATERIALS
1. Piezoelectric materials
2. Shape memory alloys
3. Thermo chromic materials
4. Electro chromic materials
5. Smart gels
6. Aerogel
7. Self healing concrete
8. Light transmitting concrete

1.4 PROPERTIES OF SMART MATERIALS

a. Sensing materials and devices
b. Actuation materials and devices
c. Control devices and techniques
d. Self-detection, self-diagnostic
e. Self-corrective, self-controlled, self-healing
f. Shock-absorbers, damage arrest

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 Chapter Two
PIEZOELECTRIC MATERIALS

2.1 WHAT ARE PIEZOELECTRIC MATERIALS?

A piezoelectric material possesses the property of converting mechanical energy into electrical
energy and vice versa. Piezoelectric are materials that can create electricity when subjected to a
mechanical stress. They will also work in reverse, generating a strain by the Application of an
electric field. The word originates from the Greek word “piezein”, which Means “to press”.
Discovered in 1880 by Pierre Curie in Quartz crystals.

FIGURE 2.1 PIEZOELECTRIC MATERIALS

2.2 APPLICATIONS OF PIEZOELECTRIC

a. Power generating sidewalk
b. Gyms and workplaces
c. Mobile keypads and keyboards

2.3 ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES

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 Chapter Three
SHAPE MEMORY ALLOYS

3.1 HISTORY OF SMA

a. SMAs were first discovered in 1951.
b. Further publicized after the discovery of Ni-Ti alloy in 1963.
c. SMAs have two main phases: Austenite and Martensite.
d. Austenite phase is Symmetric, while martensite phase is less symmetric.
e. Phase transformation occur either thermally of mechanically.

3.2 INTRODUCTION
Shape Memory Alloys (SMAs) are a unique class of metal alloys that can recover apparent
permanent strains when they are heated above a certain temperature.
The SMAs have two stable phases - the high-temperature phase, called austenite and the low-
temperature phase, called martensite

3.3 SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM UNDER TEMPERATURE

FIGURE 3.1 SMA PHASE GRAPH

FIGURE 3.2 DIFFERENT PHASE OF AN SMA

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3.4 SHAPE MEMORY EFFECT EXAMPLE

FIGURE 3.3 SHAPE MEMORY EFFECT EXAMPLE

Major Applications:
a) Aircraft,
b) Orthopaedic Surgery,
c) Dental Braces,
d) Robotics.

3.5 ADVANTAGES AND DIS ADVANTAGES

ADVANTAGES Disadvantages
a. High strength a. Initial Expensive
b. Good elasticity b. Sensitivity of material properties in
c. Fatigue Resistance fabrication.
d. Wear resistance c. Residual Stress’s developed in thin
e. Easy fabrication films.
f. Easy to sterilize d. Nonlinearity of actuation force.
g. High Power/weight ratio e. Lower maximum frequency compared
h. Light weight to other micro actuator devices.
i. Shape memory f. Poor fatigue Property.
j. Grab tiny foreign objects for removal
from the body
k. Facilitates access to intricate regions of
the body
l. Micro assembly for MEMS devices
m. Intravascular Therapy

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 Chapter Four
THERMO CHROMIC MATERIALS

4.1 WHAT ARE THERMO CHROMIC MATERIALS?

Thermo chromic materials change colour at specific temperatures. Typically, they are incorporated
into a special ink and printed onto plastic films to create thermometers or temperature indicators. The
battery test strip is a good example. If the battery is in good condition, current flows through a
printed resistor under the thermo chromic film and heat it to cause a colour change.

4.2 THE PRINCIPLE

At normal room temperature the pigment appears coloured, but at 27°C the colour disappears. For
example, if black thermo chromic pigment is applied to a white surface, the surface turns from black
to white at the change-over temperature. Similarly, if the pigment is applied to something orange the
surface colour changes from black to orange at 27°C. When the temperature falls, the pigment
colouring re-appears.

FIGURE 4.1
A. THERMO CHROMIC MATERIALS AT HIGH TEMPERATURE
B. THERMO CHROMIC MATERIALS AT LOW TEMPERATURE

4.3 APPLICATIONS
Although the pigment was developed for clock and watch hands, it has rapidly found a host of other
uses – as evidenced by the variety of glow-in-the dark objects found in shops. Current uses include:
• Traffic signs • Path marking
• Instruments and controls • Printing inks
• Emergency signs • Fire fighting equipment
• Home appliances • Novelty decorations

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 Chapter Five
ELECTRO CHROMIC MATERIALS

5.1 WHAT ARE ELECTRO CHROMIC MATERIALS?

Electro chromic is the ability of a material to change its optical properties (e.g. Colour) when a
voltage is applied across it.
Typically used for solar control on exterior glass.
The visible light transmission in the darkest state can be less than 3%. The resulting shading has
limited privacy function as it can still be seen through.
Consists of two glass panes with several layers sandwiched in between.
It works by passing low-voltage electrical charges across a microscopically thin, clear conductive
coating on the glass surface, which activates electro chromic layers that change colour from clear to
dark.
The electric current can be activated manually or by sensors which react to light intensity.
One advantage of the electro chromic smart window is that it only requires electricity to change its
opacity, but not to maintain a particular shade.
The switching speed of electro chromic glass is very slow and varies depending upon the size of the
panel (larger panels typically take many minutes to switch). The consistency of tint changes also
varies, with larger panels sometimes exhibiting tint changes that begin at the glazing’s outer edges
and then move inward (known as the “iris effect”).

FIGURE 5.1
A. ELECTRO CHROMIC SMART WINDOW OFF
B. ELECTRO CHROMIC SMART WINDOW ON

5.2 APPLICATIONS
Major applications: Smart Glass, Light-transmissive devices for optical information and storage,
Rear-view mirrors, Protective eyewear.

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 Chapter Six
SMART GELS

6.1 WHAT ARE SMART GELS?

Hydrogels are water-swollen polymeric materials that maintain a distinct three-dimensional
Structure. Their classification may be based on the source: natural, synthetic, or hybrid hydrogels
(Composed of synthetic and natural molecules); on the basis of nature of the cross linking: covalent
or non-covalent (physical) gels;
Hydrogels are ‘smart’ or ‘intelligent’ in the sense that they can recognize the predominant stimuli
and respond by displaying changes in their physical or chemical behavior, resulting in the release of
entrapped drug in a controlled manner.

FIGURE 6.1 SMART GELS STIMULI ACTION

Some hydrogels undergo continuous or discontinuous changes in swelling that are mediated by
external stimuli such as changes in pH, temperature, ionic strength, solvent type, electric and
magnetic fields, light, and the presence of chelating species.

FIGURE 6.2 FUNCTIONING OF SMART GEL

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6.2 APPLICATION OF HYDROGEL
• New researchers have demonstrated that a gel composed of small, woven protein fragments can
successfully carry and release proteins of different sizes to different targets in the body.
• It is enabling the delivery of drugs such as insulin and trastuzumab (A monoclonal antibody
(protein) often used to treat breast and ovarian cancer), hormones, growth factors as well as eye
medications.
• A newly introduced gel, known as a "nanofiber hydrogel scaffold," enables, over hours, days or
even months, a gradual release of the proteins from the gel, and the gel itself is eventually broken
down into harmless amino acids (the building blocks of proteins).
• Peptide hydrogels are ideally suited for drug delivery as they are pure, easy to design and use, non-
oxic, bio-absorbable, and can be locally applied to a particular tissue.
• Depending on the size and density of the mesh, it can carry protein molecules between 14,000 and
150,000 Daltons (a unit of molecular weight).

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 Chapter Seven
AEROGEL

7.1 WHAT ARE AEROGEL?

Aerogel is a synthetic porous ultra light material derived from a gel,
in which the liquid component of the gel has been replaced with a
gas. The result is a solid with extremely low density and low thermal
conductivity. Nicknames include frozen smoke, solid smoke, solid
air, solid cloud, blue smoke owing to its translucent nature and the
way light scatters in the material. It feels like fragile expanded
polystyrene to the touch. Aerogel was first created by Samuel
Stephens Kistler in 1931, as a result of a bet. Solid with lowest
known density. Stands up to 2000 times greater load than its own FIGURE 7.1 AEROGEL

weight.

7.2 TYPES OF AEROGEL

a. Oxides
b. Polymers
c. Carbon
d. Cellulose or Starch

7.3 SYNTHESIS OF AEROGEL

“SOL-GEL PROCESSING”
a. Mixing of chemicals
b. Gelation
c. Drying
d. Final product

FIGURE 7.2 SYNTHESIS OF AEROGEL

7.4 APPLICATIONS
a. Thermal insulation.
b. Electronic components.
c. Foundry technology.
d. Architecture.
e. Super light composites.
f. Foundry applications

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 Chapter Eight
SELF HEALING CONCRETE

8.1 WHAT IS SELF HEALING CONCRETE?

Self healing concrete is a concrete which heals itself when it comes in
contact with air and water, it produces lime on outer layer of concrete.
In most of the traditional concrete mixtures 20-30% of the cement is left
unhydrated.
If cracking of the concrete occurs, unreacted cement grains may become
exposed to moisture penetrating the crack.
In that case the hydration process may start again and hydration products
may fill up and heal the crack. FIGURE 8.1
SELF HEALING
Hence, self healing concrete is crack resistant. Which protects the concrete
CONCRETE
and reinforcement from cracks and from corrosion. By doing this, it prevents
water to percolate into reinforced steel concrete and hence it does not come
in contact with reinforcements. Thus, it prevents reinforcement from corrosion. It is a research
project.

In 1877, Ferdinand Cohn claimed that with

FIGURE 8.2 GENUS BACILLUS BACTERIA
bacteria known as Genus Bacillus” concrete
could be healed.
It contains an outer layer of thick wall, which
resist sunlight, chemical exposure etc.
When spores fine aggregate, coarse aggregate
and cement are mixed together, which results in
Self Healing Concrete.
But while mixing one precaution is taken that
bacteria and cement are not allowed to mix
together with the help of clay pellets.

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8.2 WORWKING OF SELF HEALING CONCRETE
Self-healing concrete is a product that will biologically
produce limestone to heal cracks that appear on the surface
of concrete structures.
Ca(C3H5O2)2 + 7O2 → CaCO3 + 5CO2 + 5H2O
(Calcium Lactate) (Lime)
Specially selected types of the bacteria genus Bacillus,
along with a calcium-based nutrient known as calcium
lactate, and nitrogen and phosphorus, are added to the
ingredients of the concrete when it is being mixed. FIGURE 8.3 WORWKING OF SELF HEALING
CONCRETE

8.3 APPLICATIONS
a. Self healing epoxies can be incorporated on the
metals to prevent corrosion.
b. Self healing is used on structure to prevent cracks on concrete.

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 Chapter Nine
LIGHT TRANSMITTING CONCRETE

9.1 WHAT ARE LIGHT TRANSMITTING CONCRETE?

Light transmitting concrete (litracon) also known as translucent concrete is a concrete based building
material having light transmissive property. Light-transmissive property is mainly due to uniform
distribution Optical Fibers throughout its body. It is also known to be transparent concrete.
It is available as prefabricated building blocks and panels.
In 2001 the idea of transparent concrete was put forward by Hungarian architect Aron Losonzi.
Successfully produced the first transparent concrete block in 2003, named LiTraCon.
In 2004, he started a German company named LiTraCon and started producing Litracon
commercially.

9.2 PRINCIPLE
a. Translucent concrete works based on “Nano-Optics”.
b. Fibers are placed directly on top of each other.
c. Fibers acts like slits and carry light through it.
d. Flexible, transparent fiber made up of glass or plastic.
e. It transmits light between two ends of the fiber.
f. Optical fiber transmits light so effectively that there is FIGURE 9.1
LIGHT TRANSMITTING
g. Almost no loss of light conducted through the fibers. CONCRETE

9.3 WORKING PRINCIPLE

Total Internal Reflection

When a ray of light travels from a denser to a rarer medium such that
the angle of incidence is greater than the critical angle, the ray reflects
back into the same medium this phenomena is called total internal
reflection.
In the optical fiber the rays undergo repeated total number of reflections
FIGURE 9.2 TOTAL
until it emerges out of the other end of the fiber, even if the fiber is bent.
INTERNAL REFLECTION

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 CONCLUSION

Today, the most promising technologies for lifetime efficiency and improved reliability include
the use of smart materials and structures. Understanding and controlling the composition and
microstructure of any new materials are the ultimate objectives of research in this field, and is
crucial to the production of good smart materials.
New and advanced materials will definitively enhance our quality of our life.
The research and development of smart materials has been an astounding boost to the technical
sphere. As time will pass by, these materials will be more known of and be more extensively used
to meet even the minute needs of the society.

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 REFERENCES

• Smart Materials and Smart Systems for the future-Georges Akhras.

• New Organic Electrochromic Materials and their Applications- J Zmija, M.J Malachowski.
• BBC-GCSE Bite size.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/design/electronics/materialsrev2.shtml
• Canadian Military Journal, autumn 2000.
• Buckley, S., “Automation Sensing Mimics Organisms”.
• http://chem.xmu.edu.cn/group/wtwu/Research.html
• http://www.osakagu.ac.jp/php/nakagawa/TRIZ/eTRIZ/eforum/e2008Forum/eETRIATFC200
8Rep/eETRIATFC2008TNRep.html
• Wiki…..

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