7.

2 SMART (INTELLIGENT) MATERIALS

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.
Have capability to sense their
environment, process this data, and
respond.
 (1) PIEZOELECTRIC MATERIALS
Piezoelectric materials have two unique
properties which are interrelated.
When a piezoelectric material is deformed, it
gives off a small but measurable electrical
discharge.
Alternately, when an electrical current is
passed through a piezoelectric material it
experiences a significant increase in size (up
to a 4% change in volume).
 APPLICATION EXAMPLES..
1) Airbag sensor in your car
i. The material senses the force of an impact on the car and
sends and electric charge deploying the airbag.
2) Electromechanical devices
i. In a microphone transducer, the sound of a particular
frequency results in a strain in the material, which in turn
induces an electric field.
ii. In speakers, a voltage input into the piezoelectric material can
be converted into a mechanical strain, such as in a speaker
transducer.
3) Piezo sensors for pressure, vibration, acceleration, rotation or flow
detection/measurement.
i. Structural health monitoring etc.
4) Piezo generators for energy harvesting( http://www.innowattech.co.il/ )
5) Consumer products
i. Cigarette lighters, depth finders, fish finders, humidifiers,
musical instruments, telephones.
6) Medical
i. Ultrasonic imaging.
7) Military
i. Depth sounders, guidance systems, sonar.
 (2) SHAPE MEMORY ALLOYS
A shape memory alloy (SMA, smart metal,
memory alloy, muscle wire, smart alloy) is
an alloy that demonstrate the ability to
return to its original, cold, forged shape,
after being deformed by applying heat.
The most effective and widely used alloys
include NiTi (Nickel - Titanium), CuZnAl,
and CuAlNi.

Shape memory alloys

have applications in
industries including
medical and aerospace.
 MAGNETIC SHAPE MEMORY ALLOYS

Magnetostrictive materials exhibit change in

shape under the influence of magnetic field and
also exhibit change in their magnetization under
the influence of mechanical stress.
Applications as actuators have been improved by the
usage of piezoelectric materials which have larger
displacement amounts than the traditional ferrite and
nickel materials.

Magnetic shape memory alloys are materials

that change their shape in response to a
significant change in the magnetic field
ferromagnatic materials exhibiting large changes in
shape and size in an applied magnetic field.
http://www.migamotors.com/Downloads.html

What is a Miga motor?

A Miga motor is a brand new type of electrically powered actuator, that can
be used to replace old-fashioned motors and solenoids in many
applications. Miga motors are small and lightweight... and very powerful.
Miga actuators utilize a material known as 'shape memory alloy' or
'memory metal' to achieve this unique motion.

How powerful are Miga Shape Memory Alloy Actuators?

As you can see in the movie (here), a DM01 actuator weighing only 0.7
ounces can easily heft a 7 pound bowling ball; almost 160 times it's own
weight. That's the equivalent of a 200 pound man lifting 32-thousand
pounds: the weight of a loaded cement truck!

What provides the motion/force of Shape Memory Actuators?

Miga motors harness the power of Nickel-Titanium 'muscle wires' that
contract when they are heated with electrical current. Because these
special wires remember their original shape, they are called Memory Metal
or Shape Memory Alloy wires.

Why should I use a Miga memory metal actuator instead of a

solenoid?
Solenoids (and, in fact, every other motor in the world) are much heavier
than Miga memory metal actuators for comparable force output. Solenoids
are also ON/OFF devices, and do not have speed, force, or position control;
all of which are possible with Miga motors. Miga shape memory actuators
also produce a constant force throughout the entire stroke, while the
output force of a solenoid drops dramatically after the first 10% of motion.
 Why should I use a Miga memory metal actuator instead of an electric
motor?
Motors are, by design, rotary devices. Translating rotation into
linear motion is less efficient than the direct linear motion provided
by Miga 'muscle wire' actuators, and also requires gearboxes and
linkages. Miga shape memory actuators are linear by design and
most appropriate for linear motion. [Download a PDF comparison
chart of motion solutions here.]
What applications are appropriate for Miga muscle wire actuators?
Any application where compact, silent, non-magnetic, electrically
driven, high force, linear motion is desired. These applications
would include robotics, scientific and laboratory instruments,
home and office automation, hobby, automotive, medical, and
aerospace.
Automotive-
Fuel tank door release mechanism
Trunk, glove compartment release mechanism
Aerospace-
Payload release device
Telescope door latch release
Medical-
Medical safe electronic latch release
Pumps and valve mechanisms
Consumer-
Memory card ejector
Electronic latch release
Security doors and locks
 (3) OTHER SMART MATERIALS
1. Halochromic materials are commonly used
materials that change their colour as a result of
changing acidity. One suggested application is for
paints that can change colour to indicate corrosion
in the metal underneath them.
2. Chromogenic systems change colour in response
to electrical, optical or thermal changes.
electrochromic materials which change their
colour or opacity on the application of a voltage
(e.g. liquid crystal displays)
thermochromic materials change in color
depending on their temperature
photochromic materials which change colour in
response to lightfor example, light sensitive
sunglasses that darken when exposed to bright
sunlight
3. Electrorheological materials
Viscous properties of the fluids are changed
with application of an electric field
Suspension of particles within a fluid will orient
themselves in fiberlike structures
4. Magnetorheological materials
Viscous properties of the fluids are changed
with application of a magnetic field
 (4) EXAMPLE: SMART COATINGS
Smart corrosion protective coatings
being developed to not only provide corrosive
protection but also have the ability to sense changes in
the environment and its condition; then generate an
appropriate response.
The use of "smart materials" for corrosion sensing
purposes relies on a material undergoing a
transformation through its interaction with the
corrosive environment. It is such transformations that
can potentially be used for indicating and detecting
corrosion damage. Ideally, in principle, the sensing
function could be integrated with additional actuation
and control functions, designed to control corrosion
damage.
Paint systems with color-changing compounds,
responding to pH changes that result from corrosion
processes
Use of pigments that release corrosion inhibiting
chemicals "on demand
 Smart coatings
are structured coating systems that provide an
optimum response to some external stimulus.
They react to outside conditions, such as
temperature, stress, strain or the environment, in
a selective way.

Smart Windows
The panes of glass in the window are coated with a
thermochromic material, whose heat reflectivity
changes with the temperature of the glass. Therefore
the window can switch from heat adsorption to heat
reflection function depending on the ambient
temperature outside. At a certain transition
temperature, the coating is able to reflect infrared
radiation from the sun, thus not allowing heat into
the room.
 (5) EXAMPLE : STRUCTURAL
APPLICATIONS
a) Active Control of Structures
1. Concept of adaptive behavior when
subjected to earthquake and other
environmental types of load.
1. SMA wires to dampen the dynamic
response of a cantilever beam
2. SMA Dampers on bridges to counter wind
effects.
3. SMA Actuators on buildings.
b) Passive Control of Structures
1. Passive seismic control devices
1. Special braces for framed structures
(bridges)
2. Isolation devices (dampers) for buildings
and bridges.
c) Hybrid Control
1. Combined passive and active control
system
2. With less active control, less power
resource is required.
d) Structural Health Monitoring
1. Usage of piezotransducers attached to
structures and walls for local damage
detection.
e) Active Railway Track Support
a) Maintain track in straight and
nondeformed configuration.
b) Reduced track deflection and vibration
can enable train speed to be
increased.
 7.3 NANOTECHNOLOGY
The comparative size of a nanometer to a meter is
the same as that of a marble to the size of the
earth.
A basic definition: Nanotechnology is the
engineering of functional systems at the
molecular scale.
Nanotechnology refers to the projected ability to
construct items from the bottom up, using
techniques and tools being developed today to
make complete, high performance products
It will offer better built, longer lasting, cleaner,
safer, and smarter products for the home, for
communications, for medicine, for transportation,
for agriculture, and for industry in general.
 7.3.1 EXAMPLES OF NANOTECH
BRANCHES
1. Nanoengineering
the practice of engineering on the nanoscale.
2. Nanobiotechnology
the branch of nanotechnology with biological
and biochemical applications or uses
often studies existing elements of nature in
order to fabricate new devices.
3. Nanoweapons
http://archive.newsmax.com/archives/articles
/2003/9/25/210250.shtml
 7.3.2 APPROACHES IN NANOTECH
1. BOTTOM-UP APPROACH
i. Taniguchi at the University of Tokyo - scaling down of
existing technologies to the next level of precision
and miniatuization
ii. approached nanotechnology from the 'top-down'
standpoint, from the viewpoint of a precision engineer
2. TOP-DOWN APPROACH
i. K. Eric Drexler in 1986 approached nanotechnology
from the point-of-view of a physicist
ii. "large-scale mechanosynthesis based on positional
control of chemically reactive molecules."
a. mechanosynthesis - any chemical synthesis in which
reaction outcomes are determined by the use of
mechanical constraints to direct reactive molecules to
specific molecular sites
b. In a hypothesized process of mechanosynthesis,
reactive molecules would be attached to molecular
mechanical systems, and their encounters would result
from mechanical motions bringing them together in
planned sequences, positions, and orientations.
7.3.3 NANOTECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS
http://www.understandingnano.com/nanotech-
applications.html
Medicine
Researchers are developing customized nanoparticles
the size of molecules that can deliver drugs directly to
diseased cells in your body. When it's perfected, this
method should greatly reduce the damage treatment
such as chemotherapy does to a patient's healthy cells.
Food
Nanotechnology is having an impact on several aspects
of food science, from how food is grown to how it is
packaged. Companies are developing nanomaterials
that will make a difference not only in the taste of food,
but also in food safety, and the health benefits that food
delivers.
Fuel Cells
Nanotechnology is being used to reduce the cost of
catalysts used in fuel cells to produce hydrogen ions
from fuel such as methanol and to improve the
efficiency of membranes used in fuel cells to separate
hydrogen ions from other gases such as oxygen.
 Solar Cells
Companies have developed nanotech solar cells that can be
manufactured at significantly lower cost than conventional solar
cells.
Batteries
Companies are currently developing batteries using
nanomaterials. One such battery will be a good as new after
sitting on the shelf for decades. Another battery can be
recharged significantly faster than conventional batteries.
Fuels
Nanotechnology can address the shortage of fossil fuels such as
diesel and gasoline by making the production of fuels from low
grade raw materials economical, increasing the mileage of
engines, and making the production of fuels from normal raw
materials more efficient.
Better Air Quality
Nanotechnology can improve the performance of catalysts used
to transform vapors escaping from cars or industrial plants into
harmless gasses. That's because catalysts made from
nanoparticles have a greater surface area to interact with the
reacting chemicals than catalysts made from larger particles.
The larger surface area allows more chemicals to interact with
the catalyst simultaneously, which makes the catalyst more
effective.
 7.4 MODERN MATERIAL NEEDS
Depletion of fossil fuels
It is generally accepted that they formed from the
fossilized remains of dead plants and animals by
exposure to heat and pressure in the Earth's crust
over hundreds of millions of years
Fossil fuels are non-renewable resources because
they take millions of years to form, and reserves
are being depleted much faster than new ones are
being formed.
Alternative fuels, Better efficient engines/motors
Medicine/Biotechnology
New medicine
Better instrumentation
Materials Engineering
Civil construction > buildings, bridges etc
Consumer products
Cost/Price War