Towards Smart Materials: Enhancing the Efficiency of the Materials

1.1 Definition of Smart Materials

Smart materials exhibit unique and often unusual properties and behaviours, which can be controlled or altered by an external provocation, such as temperature, light, magnetic or electric field (Ounaies, 2016). These materials are designed to respond and adapt to changes in their environment and may be employed in applications of various verticals and domains, ranging from aerospace and automotive engineering to biomedicine and consumer electronics.

Some examples of smart materials include Shape memory alloys, electrochromic materials, thermochromic materials, piezoelectric materials and magnetostrictive materials. Shape memory alloys, for example, may change shape in response to temperature changes, whereas piezoelectric materials can create an electric charge when subjected to mechanical stress (Mather, 2010).

In the recent past, there has been a enormous amount of study and innovation into the creation and use of smart materials (Dierdorf, 2002), with the goal of increasing the performance and functionality of current materials and generating new materials with unique qualities and capabilities.

1.2 Brief History on Development of Industry Important Smart Materials

Shape memory alloys (SMAs) were discovered by William Buehler and Frederick Wang at the US Naval Ordnance Laboratory in 1959. This marks the beginning of development of smart materials. SMAs have the ability to “remember” their initial shape and return to it when exposed to heat or other stimuli, making them helpful in a range of applications like as robotics and medical equipment (Bououdina, 2015).

Piezoelectric polymers, which create an electrical charge as a result of the mechanical stress (Araujo, 2015), were discovered in the 1970s by the team of researchers at the National Bureau of Standards. This property has resulted in the creation of piezoelectric sensors and actuators, which are utilised in a variety of applications such as automotive systems and medical equipment.

Electroactive polymers, which change form in reaction to an electric field, and magnetostrictive materials, which change shape in response to a magnetic field, are two further types of smart materials that have been produced throughout the years.

Nanotechnology advancements in recent past had resulted in creation of new varieties of smart materials, such as carbon nanotubes and graphene, which have unique electrical and mechanical characteristics that make them valuable in a diversified applications (J. H. Koo, 2017)(Uchino, Piezoelectric Actuators and Devices: Recent Developments and Prospects, 2006)(Xie, 2015).

1.3 Regulations and Importance of Smart Materials

Smart material regulations differ based on the use and sector. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in United States oversees the use of smart materials in medical devices to ensure that they are secure and effective. Similarly, to ensure compliance with safety regulations, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) controls the use of smart materials in aircraft (Asmatulu, 2016).

Aside from regulatory issues, there are also ethical and social implications associated with the use of smart materials (Haghniaz, 2018). Concerns have been raised, for example, pertaining to the possible influence of smart materials on employment, privacy, and security. The significance of smart materials lies in their ability to enable new technologies and applications that can improve our lives (Kandola, 2019). However, it is vital to address regulatory and ethical concerns to ensure that the benefits of these materials can be maximised while potential risks are minimised.