Smart Materials

Smart 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.
Smart or intelligent materials are materials that have the intrinsic and extrinsic
capabilities, first, to respond to stimuli and environmental changes and, second, to
activate their functions according to these changes. The stimuli could originate
internally or externally.

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Types of smart materials

Piezoelectric Materials: When subjected to an electric charge or a variation in voltage,

piezoelectric material will undergo some mechanical change, and vice versa. These events are
called the direct and converse effects.

Electrostrictive Materials: This material has the same properties as piezoelectric material,
but the mechanical change is proportional to the square of the electric field. This characteristic
will always produce displacements in the same direction.

Magnetostrictive Materials: When subjected to a magnetic field, and vice versa (direct and
converse effects), this material will undergo an induced mechanical strain. Consequently, it
can be used as sensors and/or actuators. (Example: Terfenol-D.)

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Shape Memory Alloys: When subjected to a thermal field, this material will undergo phase
transformations which will produce shape changes. It deforms to its ‘martensitic’ condition with
low temperature, and regains its original shape in its ‘austenite’ condition when heated (high
temperature). (Example: NitiNOL TiNi.)

Halochromic Materials: These 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.

Optical Fibres: Fibres that use intensity, phase, frequency or polarization of modulation to
measure strain, temperature, electrical/magnetic fields, pressure and other measurable
quantities. They are excellent sensors.

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Characteristics of smart materials:
Immediacy – they respond in real‐time.
Transiency – they respond to more than one environmental state.
Self‐actuation – intelligence is internal to rather than external to the ‘material’.
Selectivity – their response is discrete and predictable.
Directness – the response is local to the ‘activating’ event.
Property change
– undergo a change in a property or properties
– chemical, thermal, mechanical, magnetic, optical or electrical – in response to a change in the
conditions of the environment of the material
– thermochromics, electrochromics, photochromics
Energy change
– change an input energy into another form to produce output energy in accordance with the First
Law of Thermodynamics
– piezoelectrics, pyroelectrics, photovoltaics, ……
Reversibility / directionality
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Size / location
 Composite Materials
 A Composite is a structural material that consists of two or more
combined constituents that are combined at a macroscopic level and are
not soluble in each other.
Examples of naturally occurring composites
– Wood: Cellulose fibers bound by lignin matrix
– Bone: Stiff mineral “fibers” in a soft organic matrix
permeated with holes filled with liquids
– Granite: Granular composite of quartz, feldspar,
and mica
Some examples of man‐made composites
– Concrete: Particulate composite of aggregates
(limestone or granite), sand, cement and water
– Plywood: Several layers of wood veneer glued
together
– Fiberglass: Plastic matrix reinforced by glass fibers
– Cemets: Ceramic and metal composites
– Fibrous composites: Variety of fibers (glass, kevlar,
graphite, nylon, etc.) bound together by a
polymeric matrix

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These are not composites!
• Plastics: Even though they may have several
“fillers”, their presence does not alter the
physical properties significantly.
• Alloys: Here the alloy is not macroscopically
heterogeneous, especially in terms of physical
properties.
• Metals with impurities: The presence of
impurities does not significantly alter physical
properties of the metal.
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Where are composites used?
• Automotive industry: Lighter, stronger, wear
resistance, rust‐free, aesthetics
– Car body
– Brake pads
– Drive shafts
– Fuel tanks
– Hoods
– Spoilers

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• Aerospace:
Lighter, stronger, temperature resistance, smart structures, wear
resistance
– Aircraft: Nose, doors, struts, trunnion, fairings,
cowlings, ailerons, outboard and inboard flaps,
stabilizers, elevators, rudders, fin tips, spoilers,
edges
– Rockets & missiles: Nose, body, pressure tanks,
frame, fuel tanks, turbo‐motor stators, etc.
– Satellites: Antennae, frames, structural parts

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One constituent is called the reinforcing phase and the one in which it
is embedded is called the matrix.
 The reinforcing phase material may be in the form of fibers,
particles, or flakes.
The matrix phase materials are generally continuous.
 Examples of composite systems include concrete reinforced with
steel and epoxy
reinforced with graphite fibers, etc.

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 Reinforcement + Matrix = Composite
Phases of Composites

Matrix Phase: Polymers, Metals, Ceramics

Reinforcement Phase: Fibers, Particles, or Flakes

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 Advanced composites

Advanced composites are composite materials that are

traditionally used in the aerospace industries.

These composites have high performance reinforcements of a thin

diameter in a matrix material such as epoxy and aluminum.

 Examples are graphite/epoxy, Kevlar/epoxy, and

boron/aluminum composites.
CLASSIFICATION OF COMPOSITE MATERIALS
Based on the type of the Matrix materials

Matrix Material

Polymer Matrix Metal Matrix Ceramic Matrix

•Thermoplastic •Light metal &alloys(Al, Mg, Li &Ti) •Ceramic(oxides, Carbide etc)

•Thermosets •Refractory Metals •Carbon
(Co, W etc)
Based on the form of the reinforcement components
Typical characteristics of composite materials
1) High strength to weight ratio
2) High stiffness to weight ratio
3) Good dimensional stability
4) Corrosion resistance
5) High impact strength
6) Wear resistance
7) Light weight
8) High resistance to fatigue
9) Directional tailoring capabilities
10) Fibre to fibre redundant load path
11) Improved torsional stiffness
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4. Compare the composite materials with other kinds of materials?
The comparisons of composite materials with metals are
Fatigue endurance limit of composites may approach 60% of their ultimate tensile
strength. For steel and aluminium, this value is considerably lower.

Fibre composites are more versatile than metals, and can be tailored to meet
performance needs and complex design requirements such as aero-elastic loading on
the wings and the vertical & the horizontal stabilizers of aircraft.

Composites offer significant weight saving over existing metals. Composites can
provide structures that are 25-45% lighter than the conventional aluminium structures
designed to meet the same functional requirements. This is due to the lower density of
the composites.
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Unidirectional fibre composites have specific tensile strength (ratio of material
strength to density) about 4 to 6 times greater than that of Steel and Aluminium.
Unidirectional composites have specific -modulus (ratio of the material stiffness to
density) about 3 to 5 times greater than that of Steel and Aluminum.

Fibre reinforced composites can be designed with excellent structural damping

features. As such, they are less noisy and provide lower vibration transmission than
metals.
High corrosion resistance of fibre composites contributes to reduce life- cycle cost.

Composite parts can eliminate joints / fasteners thereby providing parts simplification
and integrated design.
Long term service experience of composite material environment and durability
behaviour is limited in comparison with metals.
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ceramic materials

Ceramics can be defined as a class of inorganic nonmetallic materials that have ionic
and/or covalent bonding and that are either processed or used at high temperatures.

OR

Ceramics are solid materials produced by the application of heat and pressure
consisting of two materials, one may be metal or non metallic elemental solid and
other being non metal or non metallic elemental solid.

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The characteristics of ceramic materials are

High wear resistance

Oxidation resistance and chemically stable

Electrically and thermally insulative

Resistance to environmental changes

Brittle and non magnetic in nature

Hard and highly refractory

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Ceramics are classified as traditional ceramics and engineering ceramics.

1.Traditional ceramics are largely silica or clay based and typically involves low-cost

fabrication processes.

2.Engineering ceramics are fabricated from high-purity ceramic powders, and their

properties can be manipulated by varying process parameters and, thereby,

microstructures.

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Based on their applications, engineering ceramics are usually classified into two major

classes:

structural ceramics and functional ceramics.

In general, structural ceramics can be further classified into two classes:

(1) Oxide ceramics (Al2O3, ZrO2, SiO2, etc)

(2) Non-oxide ceramics (SiC, TiC, B4C, TiB2, Si3N4, TiN, etc).

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Typical examples of areas wherein engineering ceramics have found applications are
Silicon Nitride (Si3N4) based materials used as ball bearings, automobile valves, and
cutting inserts.
Silicon Carbide (SiC) used as bearing seals.
Oxide ceramics, such as zirconia, are widely used in SOFCs (solid oxide fuel cell)
such applications include reentry nozzles in rockets or hypersonic space vehicles.
In many structural and tribological applications include seal rings, valve seats,
extrusion dies,
cutting tools, bearings, and cylinder liners.
They are used in furnace lining, ceramic engines, optical communication, Laser
materials, etc.
They are used as insulating materials in industries.
They are used as substrates in electronic components.

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 Shape memory Alloy
The term Shape Memory Effect (SME) refers to the ability of SMA elements
to annihilate a deformation and to recover a predefined or ‘memorized’
shape by heating the element above a certain temperature.

The predefined of memorized shape is the shape that is given to the

element upon fabrication at high temperatures, thus with the SMA being in
its austenitic state.

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 One-Way Effect

Utilized for fastening and clamping devices, such as couplings, fasteners.

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Two-Way Effect

Used as thermally activated actuators

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Shape Memory Alloys:
Nickel-Titanium-Naval-Ordnance-Laboratories (NiTiNOL)
Nickel-Titanium-Copper (NiTiCu)
Copper-Zinc-Aluminum-Nickel
Applications of Shape Memory Effect:
Self-expandable cardiovascular stent (a small support that is put in the
side of a blood vessel tube)
Blood clot filters
Engines
Actuators for smart systems
Flaps that change direction of airflow depending upon temperature (for
air conditioners)
Couplings
Springs
Fire Alarms 38
The key properties of NiTiNOL include
• Large forces that can be generated due to the shape memory effect.
• Excellent damping properties below the transition temperature
• Excellent corrosion resistance
• Nonmagnetic
• High fatigue strength
• Moderate impact resistance
• Moderate heat resistance
• Biocompatible

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The applications of NiTiNOL are
• Aerospace and naval applications - coupling have are being used in military aircraft
and naval craft.
• Medical Applications - Tweezers for removing foreign objects via small incisions,
anchors for tendon fixation and stents for cardiovascular applications.
• Dentistry - Orthodontic wires, which do not need to be retightened and adjusted
• Safety devices - Safety valves/actuators to control water temperature and fire
sprinklers
• Fasteners, seals, connectors and clamps
• Safety devices – Safety valves/actuators to control water temperature and fire
sprinklers.

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 Vibration control through shape memory alloy

Steel beam is added by .25 kg of weight

Alternating heating and cooling imposed the oscillating force on beam.
3 resonance was observed with highest frequency at 168 Hz 41
Beam is fiberglass reinforced resin
Only one excitation was observed at 10 Hz.
This indicates cantilever beam can be excited to resonance by using SMA
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Piezo electric crystal was mounted on each side of beam
When excited by SMA only first mode frequency was 35 Hz
For PZT it was 32 Hz
So amplitude of vibration is reduced 43
Magnetic Materials:
The materials that can be either attracted or repelled when placed in an external
magnetic field and can be magnetized themselves.
Example: Iron or its alloys which are used in various electrical appliances like
generators, televisions, cassette recorders, magnetic core computer memories, etc.
On the basis of orientation, the magnetic materials are classified into five categories.
1) Diamagnetic
2) Paramagnetic
3) Ferromagnetic
4) Anti Ferromagnetic
5) Ferrimagnetic

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Diamagnetic materials have a weak, negative susceptibility to magnetic fields.
Diamagnetic materials are slightly repelled by a magnetic field and the material does
not retain the magnetic properties when the external field is removed. Most elements in
the periodic table, including copper, silver, and gold, are diamagnetic.

Paramagnetic materials have a small, positive susceptibility to magnetic fields. These

materials are slightly attracted by a magnetic field and the material does not retain the
magnetic properties when the external field is removed. Paramagnetic materials include
magnesium, molybdenum, lithium, and tantalum.

Ferromagnetic materials have a large, positive susceptibility to an external magnetic

field. They exhibit a strong attraction to magnetic fields and are able to retain their
magnetic properties after the external field has been removed. Iron, nickel, and cobalt
are examples of ferromagnetic materials.

Ferrimagnetic materials are similar to ferromagnetic materials but weaker. The

difference between ferromagnetic and ferrimagnetic materials is related to their
microscopic structure. Magnetite is the best example of ferrimagnetic materials.

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Electromagnetic Materials:
An electromagnet, in its simplest form, is a wire that has been coiled into one or
more loops, known as solenoids. When electric current flows through the wire, the
magnetic field is generated. It is concentrated near the coil and its field lines are very
similar to those a magnet. The orientation of this effective magnet is determined by
right hand rule.

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Characteristics of electromagnetic materials

High permeability
Saturation flux density
High electrical resistivity
Small hysteresis loop
Small corrosive field

Characteristics of magnetic materials

High permeability
Strong magnetic reluctance
 High value of BH product
Large hysteresis loop
High corrosive field

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