American Journal of Applied Sciences 10 (8): 876-880, 2013

ISSN: 1546-9239
©2013 Science Publication
doi:10.3844/ajassp.2013.876.880 Published Online 10 (8) 2013 (http://www.thescipub.com/ajas.toc)

INTRODUCTION, CLASSIFICATION AND

APPLICATIONS OF SMART MATERIALS: AN OVERVIEW

Susmita Kamila
Department of Chemistry, East Point College of Engineering and Technology, Bangalore-560 049, India

Received 2013-06-13, Revised 2013-07-12; Accepted 2013-07-18

ABSTRACT
Smart materials are common name for a wide group of different substances. The general feature of all of
them is the fact that one or more properties might be significantly altered under controlled condition. The
present age is considered to be the smart materials era. Earlier, smart material was defined as the material,
which responds to its environments in a timely manner. However, the definition of smart materials has been
expanded to the materials that receive, transmit, or process a stimulus and respond by producing a useful
effect that may include a signal that the materials are acting upon it. This study focuses on the introduction
of smart materials and their classifications. Different applications of smart materials in various fields are
also being discussed starting from engineering to the present environment.

Keywords: Smart Materials, Actuators, Piezoelectric, External Stimuli

1. INTRODUCTION Smartness describes self-adaptability, self-sensing,

memory and multiple functionalities of the materials or
With the development of material science, many new, structures. These characteristics provide numerous
high-quality and cost-efficient materials have come into possible applications for these materials and structures in
use in various field of engineering. In the last ten aerospace, manufacturing, civil infrastructure systems,
decades, the materials became multifunctional and biomechanics and environment. Self-adaptation
required the optimization of different characterization characteristics of smart structures are a great benefit that
and properties. With the last evolution, the concept has utilizes the embedded adaptation of smart materials like
been driving towards composite materials and recently,
shape memory alloys. By changing their properties,
the next evolutionary step is being contemplated with the
smart materials can detect faults and cracks and therefore
concept of smart materials. Smart materials are new
are useful as a diagnostic tool. This characteristic can be
generation materials surpassing the conventional
utilized to activate the smart material embedded in the
structural and functional materials. These materials
host material in a proper way to compensate for the fault.
possess adaptive capabilities to external stimuli, such as
loads or environment, with inherent intelligence. This phenomenon is called self-repairing effect.
(Rogers, 1988; Rogers et al., 1988) defined smart 1.1. Types
materials as materials, which possess the ability to
change their physical properties in a specific manner in These materials with one or more property can be
response to specific stimulus input. The stimuli could be significantly altered in a controlled fashion by external
pressure, temperature, electric and magnetic fields, stimuli. Thus this material has built-in or intrinsic sensor
chemicals, hydrostatic pressure or nuclear radiation. The (s), actuator (s) and control mechanism (s) by which it is
associated changeable physical properties could be shape, capable of sensing a stimulus, responding to it in a
stiffness, viscosity or damping. Takagi (1990) explained it predetermined manner and extent, in a short or appropriate
as intelligent materials that respond to environmental time and reverting to its original state as soon as the
changes at the most optimum conditions and reveal their stimulus is removed. There are a number of types of smart
own functions according to the environment. material available and some are discussed below.

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Piezoelectric materials are very common example of Polymer gels, such as hydrogels, have a cross linked
such materials where they produce a voltage when stress polymer structure inflated with a solvent, such as water;
is applied. Since this effect also applies in the reverse the gel has the ability to swell or shrink (up to 1000
manner, a voltage across the sample will produce stress times in volume) due to small changes in, e.g.,
within the sample. Suitably designed structures made temperature or pH.
from these materials can therefore be made that bend, 1.2. Classification
expand or contract when a voltage is applied. They can
also be used in optical-tracking devices, magnetic heads, Smart materials can also be classified into two
dot-matrix printers, computer keyboards, high-frequency categories i.e., either active or passive. Fairweather (1998)
stereo speakers, accelerometers, micro-phones, pressure defined active smart materials as those materials which
sensors, transducers and igniters for gas grills. possess the capacity to modify their geometric or
Thermo-responsive materials, either Shape Memory material properties under the application of electric,
Alloys (SMA) or shape memory polymers, are materials thermal or magnetic fields, thereby acquiring an inherent
that can hold different shapes at various temperatures. capacity to transduce energy. Piezoelectric materials,
They can be deformed and returned to their original shape SMAs, ER fluids and magneto-strictive materials are
by heating. In the process, they generate an actuating considered to be the active smart materials and
force. Shape memory alloy, such as nitinol, an alloy of therefore, they can be used as force transducers and
nickel and titanium, which has a corrosion resistance actuators. Kumar (1991) showed that SMA has large
similar to stainless steel, making it particularly useful for recovery force, of the order of 700 MPa (105 psi),
biomechanical applications. Such types of materials can which can be utilized for actuation. Similarly
be used in coffee-pot thermostat, super elastic spectacle piezoelectric materials, which convert electric energy
frames, stents for veins, whereas shape memory polymer into mechanical force, are also ‘active’.
has the ability to regain its original shape when heated. On the other part, the materials, which are not active,
These are generally used in biodegradable surgical sutures are called passive smart materials. Although smart, they
that will automatically tighten to the correct tension and lack the inherent capability to transduce energy. Fiber
also in self repairing car bodies that will recover shape on optic material is a good example of a passive smart
material. Such materials can act as sensors but not as
gentle heating after a dent.
actuators or transducers.
Magneto restrictive materials similar to
piezoelectrics, respond to only magnetic fields rather 1.3. Applications
than electric. They are typically used in low-frequency,
Smart materials find a wide range of applications due
high-power sonar transducers, motors and hydraulic
to their varied response to external stimuli. The different
actuators, along with the shape-memory alloy Nitinol, areas of application can be in our day to day life,
magneto restrictive materials are considered promising aerospace, civil engineering applications and
candidates for achieving active damping of vibrations. mechatronics to name a few. The scope of application of
PH-sensitive materials are the materials that change smart material includes solving engineering problems
their colour as a result of changing acidity. This can be with unfeasible efficiency and provides an opportunity
applicable for paints that can change colour to indicate for creation of new products that generate revenue.
corrosion in the metal underneath them. Important feature related to smart materials and
Chromogenic systems change colour in response to structures is that they encompass all fields of science and
electrical, optical or thermal changes. These include engineering. As far as the technical applications of smart
Electrochromic materials, which change their colour or materials is concerned, it involves composite materials
opacity on the application of a voltage. Very common embedded with fiber optics, actuators, sensors, Micro-
Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMSs), vibration
example of such type is Liquid crystal displays.
control, sound control, shape control, product health or
Likewise, photochromic materials, which change colour lifetime monitoring, cure monitoring, intelligent
in response to light. This can be observed in light processing, active and passive controls, self-repair
sensitive spectacles that darken when exposed to bright (healing), artificial organs, novel indicating devices,
sunlight. There are also certain paints such as the designed magnets, damping aeroelastic stability and
rmochromic and photochromic paints, which change stress distributions. Smart structures are found in
colour on heating and on exposure to light respectively. automobiles, space systems, fixed-and rotary-wing

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aircrafts, naval vessels, civil structures, machine tools, 1.5. Self-Repair

recreation and medical devices.
The kind of ‘smartness’ shown by these materials is One method in development involves embedding thin
generally programmed by material composition, special tubes containing uncured resin into materials. When
damage occurs, these tubes break, exposing the resin
processing, introduction of defects or by modifying the
which fills any damage and sets. Self-repair could be
micro-structure, so as to adapt to the various levels of
important in inaccessible environments such as
stimuli in a controlled fashion. Like smart structures, the
underwater or in space.
terms ‘smart and ‘intelligent’ are used interchangeably for
smart materials. Takagi (1990) defined intelligent 1.6. In the Field of Defense and Space
materials as the materials which respond to environmental
Smart materials have been developed to suppress
changes at the most optimum conditions and manifest vibrations and change shape in helicopter rotor blades.
their own functions according to the environment. The Shape-memory-alloy devices are also being developed
feedback functions within the material are combined with that are capable of achieving accelerated breakup of
properties and functions of the materials. vortex waves of submarines and similarly different
Smart systems also sense their environment and adaptive control surfaces are developed for airplane
respond, but are not constructed from a single material. wings. Besides, present research is on its way to focus on
They may incorporate smart materials, but can also be new control technologies for smart materials and design
constructed using traditional technology. Pacemakers methods for placement of sensors and actuators.
are a smart system designed to respond to an irregular 1.7. In Nuclear Industries
heart rate with an electrical impulse that regulates it.
Vardan and Vardan (2002) reported that smart system Smart technology offers new opportunities in nuclear
refers to a device which can sense changes in its industrial sector for safety enhancement, personal
environment and can make anoptimal response by exposure reduction, life-cycle cost reduction and
changing its material properties, geometry, mechanical performance improvement. However, the radiation
environments associated with nuclear operations
or electromagnetic response. Both the sensor and the
represent a unique challenge to the testing, qualification
actuator functions with their appropriate feedback must and use of smart materials. However, the use of such
be properly integrated. According to (Takagi, 1990), smart materials in nuclear facilities requires knowledge
the system could lose its application or could be about the materials respond to irradiation and how this
dangerous if the response is too slow or too fast. Some response is influenced by the radiation dose.
common smart materials and associated stimulus-
response are listed in figure (Fig. 1). 1.8. In Structural Engineering
Smart materials and systems have a wide range of These materials also find application in the field of
applications. Investment in research and development is structural engineering. They are used to monitor the civil
driven by factors such as legislation, reducing waste and engineering structures to evaluate their durability. Not
demand for higher quality of life. only the smart materials or structures are restricted to
Structures such as buildings, bridges, pipelines, ships sensing but also they adapt to their surrounding
and aircraft must be strongly designed and regularly environment such as the ability to move, vibrate and
inspected to prevent ‘wear and tear’ damage from demonstrate various other responses. The applications of
causing disastrous failures. Inspection is expensive and such adaptive materials involve the capability to control
time consuming, while designing to prevent damage can the aero elastic form of the aircraft wing to reduce the
compromise performance. With some modern materials, pull and improve operational efficiency, to control the
damage can be internally serious but leave very little vibration of satellites’ lightweight structures, Smart
structures are also being developed to monitor structural
surface evidence.
integrity in aircraft and space structures. Effort has been
1.4. Structural Health Monitoring made to investigate certain piezoelectric materials to
reduce noise in air conditioners. Besides, in civil
Embedding sensors within structures to monitor engineering, these materials are used to monitor the
stress and damage can reduce maintenance costs and integrity of bridges, dams, offshore oil-drilling towers
increase lifespan. This is already used in over forty where fiber-optic sensors embedded in the structures are
bridges worldwide. utilized to identify the trouble areas.

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Fig. 1. Common smart materials and associated stimulus-response

1.9. Biomedical Applications product life may be longer. Manufacturers are now
looking for ways to extend product life with packaging
In the field of biomedicine and medical
by utilizing smart materials.
diagnostics, still investigations are being carried out.
As food becomes less fresh, chemical reactions
Certain materials like poly-electrolyte gels are being
take place within the packaging and bacteria build up.
experimented for artificial-muscle applications, where
Smart labels have been developed that change colour
a polymer matrix swollen with a solvent that can
to indicate the presence of an increased level of a
expand or contract when exposed to an electric field
chemical or bacteria in it.
or other stimulation. In addition, due to
Storage temperature has a much greater effect than
biodegradability of these materials, it may make it
time on the degradation of most products. Some
useful as a drug-delivery system.
companies have developed ‘time-temperature
1.10. Reducing Waste indicators’ that change colour over time at a speed
dependent on temperature.
All over the world, the electronic wastes are the
fastest growing components of domestic waste. During 1.12. Health
disposal and processing of such wastes, hazardous and
recyclable materials should be removed first. Manual Biosensors made from smart materials can be used to
disassembly is expensive and time consuming but the use monitor blood sugar levels in diabetics and communicate
of smart materials could help to automate the process. with a pump that administers insulin as required.
Recently fasteners constructed from shape memory However, the human body is a hostile environment and
materials are used that can self release on heating. Once sensors are easily damaged. Some researches on barrier
the fasteners have been released, components can be materials are going to protect these sensors.
separated simply by shaking the product. By using Now-a-days different companies are developing
fasteners that react to different temperatures, products smart orthopedic implants such as fracture plates that can
could be disassembled hierarchically so that materials sense whether bones are healing and communicate data
can be sorted automatically. to the surgeon. Small scale clinical trials of such
implants have been successful and they could be
1.11. Reducing Food Waste
available within the next five years. Other possible
Food makes up maximum waste among all others. devices include replacement joints that communicate
Most of the food grown for consumption is thrown away when they become loose or if there is an infection.
without consumption due to their reaching of expiry Current technology limits the response of these devices
date. These dates are conservative estimates and actual to transmitting data but in the future, they could respond

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directly by self-tightening or releasing antibiotics. This 3. REFERENCES

could reduce the need for invasive surgery.
Fairweather, J.A., 1998. Designing with Active
1.13. The Ageing Population Materials: An Impedance Based Approach. 1st Edn.,
There are now more people aged over 60 in almost UMI, New York, pp: 196.
every part of universe than children, creating a new Kumar, S., 1991. Smart materials for accoustic or
market for products that make life easier for the elderly. vibration control. Ph.D. Thesis, Pennsylvania State
Many of these could use smart materials and systems to University.
include added functionality. For example, shape memory Rogers, C.A., 1988. Workshop summary. Proceedings
materials could be used in food packaging that U.S. Army Research Office Workshop on Smart
automatically opens on heating for people with arthritis. Materials, Structures and Mathematical Issues, Sept.
Smart homes have been developed by researchers for 15-16 State University, Technomic Publishing Co.,
people with dementia that uses sensors to monitor Inc., pp: 1-12.
behaviour and to ensure that the resident is safe. Rogers, C.A., D.K. Barker, and C.A. Jaeger, 1988.
Introduction to Smart Materials and Structures.
2. CONCLUSION Proceedings of U.S. Army Research Office
Workshop on Smart Materials, Structures and
The technology of smart materials by its nature, is a Mathematical Issues, Sept. 15-16, Virginia
highly interdisciplinary field. Starting from the field of Polytechnic Institute and State University,
basic sciences such as physics, chemistry, mechanics, Technomic Publishing Co., Inc., pp: 17-28.
computing and electronics it also covers the applied Takagi, T., 1990. A concept of intelligent materials. J.
sciences and engineering such as aeronautics and Intell. Mater. Syst. Struct., 1: 149-156. DOI:
mechanical engineering. This may explain the slow 10.1177/1045389X9000100201
progress of the application of smart structures in Vardan, V.K. and V.V. Vardan, 2002. Microsensors,
engineering systems, even if the science of smart Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) and
materials is moving very fast. In the present scenario, the electronics for smart structures and systems. Smart
most promising technologies for lifetime efficiency and Mater. Struct., 9: 953-972. DOI: 10.1088/0964-
improved reliability include the use of smart materials 1726/9/6/327
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.

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Trabajo Práctico 4
INTRODUCTION, CLASSIFICATION AND APPLICATIONS OF SMART MATERIALS: AN OVERVIEW

Este trabajo se realiza en grupo y se va a corregir en la clase.

Solo el último punto (4) es de entrega INDIVIDUAL

1) El Abstract: ¿Qué título le pondría a cada sección sacada del Abstract?

Smart materials are common name for a wide group of

different substances.
However, the definition of smart materials has been expanded
to the materials that receive, transmit, or process a stimulus
and respond by producing a useful effect that may include a
signal that the materials are acting upon it.

The general feature of all of them is the fact that one or more
properties might be significantly altered under controlled
condition.

The present age is considered to be the smart materials era.

Earlier, smart material was defined as the material, which
responds to its environments in a timely manner.

This study focuses on the introduction of smart materials and

their classifications.

Different applications of smart materials in various fields are

also being discussed starting from engineering to the present
environment

Mag Silvia Rivarola

 Nivel 2

2) La OVERVIEW: Lea atentamente cada sección de este paper y relice las actividades porpuestas.
 INTRODUCTION
¿Cómo se relacionan los términos SMART MATERIALS, SELF-REPAIRING, SELF-ADAPTATION?

 TYPES
De un ejemplo de los materiales mencionados en el cuadro
Piezoelectricos Teclados de computadora
Con respuesta térmica Stents
Magnéticos Motores
Sensibles al PH Pinturas que cambian de color para indicar la
corrosión de un metal
Sensibles al calor Anteojos
Geles de polímeros

 CLASSIFICATION
Según los tipos de materiales, ¿cómo los clasifica el autor? Complete el cuadro.
Clasifica los materiales en pasivos y activos.
Piezoelectricos Activo
Con respuesta térmica Activo
Magnéticos Activo
Sensibles al PH Pasivo
Sensibles al calor Pasivo
Geles de polímeros Pasivo

 APPLICATIONS
Lea las siguientes afirmaciones y decida si son verdaderas o falsas

...... No existen muchas areas de aplicación para los materiales inteligentes.

...... La ciencia y la ingeniería resuelven todos sus problemas usando materiales inteligentes.

...... Los materiales compuestos embebidos en fibra óptica, los actuadores, los sensores MEMS y los distribudores de
estabilidad y tensión son algunos ejemplos de aplicaciones.

3) ¿Qué es un sistema inteligente? Definalo

 STRUCTURAL HEALTH MONITORING

¿Cómo expresaría esta oración en Castellano?

Embedding sensors within structures to monitoring stress and damage can reduce maintenance costs and increase
lifespan.

La integración de sensores dentro de las estructuras para monitorear el estrés y los daños puede reducir los costos
de mantenimiento y aumentar la vida útil.

Mag Silvia Rivarola

 Nivel 2

 SELF-REPAIR
Responda: ¿Por qué es importante que los materiales sean autoreparantes?
Es importante porque puede ser de gran ayuda para entornos que no son facilmente accesibles (Por
ejemplo, bajo el agua o en el espacio)

 Lea las secciones 1.6, 1.7, 1. 8 y 1.9 , y complete este cuadro

AREA NUEVO DESARROLLO PROPOSITO

DEFENSA E INDUSTRIA .
ESPACIAL
IND. NUCLEAR

INGENIERIA ESTRUCTURAL

ING. CIVIL

POBLACIÓN AÑOSA

 Lea las secciones 1. 10 y 1.11 y resuma lo que expresa el autor acerca de los desperdicios.

El autor explica que los residuos electrónicos son los componentes de la basura domestica de mayor
crecimiento. Estos residuos requieren un tratamiento especial para separar los materiales que son
reciclables, pero realizar este proceso manualmente es muy lento y costoso. Utilizando materiales
inteligentes este proceso podría automatizarse, por ejemplo, utilizando sujetadores que reaccionen a una
temperatura determinada para hacer el proceso de desarme más eficiente.

Los otros desechos que constituyen gran parte de la basura doméstica son los alimentos. Como se busca
extender la vida útil de los productos, los fabricantes intentan utilizar materiales inteligentes para el
packaging (Por ejemplo, etiquetas inteligentes que cambian de color para indicar la presencia de un nivel
aumentado de un químico o bacterias en él)

 SALUD

Mencione 3 dispositivos que posean sistemas inteligentes para el cuidado de la salud.

Mag Silvia Rivarola

 Nivel 2

4) CONCLUSION (INDIVIDUAL)
¿A qué conclusión llega el autor? Expresela en sus propias palabras.

El autor concluye que la tecnología de materiales inteligentes tiene una gran cantidad de aplicaciones en múltiples
disciplinas, lo que hace que a pesar de que los avances en la ciencia de los materiales son rápidos, en algunos casos
estos tarden en ser aplicados en el campo de la ingeniería. También expresa que muchas de las tecnologías más
prometedoras de la actualidad incluyen materiales inteligentes y resalta la importancia de comprender la estructura
de materiales nuevos para mejorar la producción de futuros materiales inteligentes.

Mag Silvia Rivarola