Modern, smart and composite materials · GCSE Design and Technology

Modern materials

Graphene: a single layer of carbon atoms. Very strong, light and an excellent conductor. Possible uses include flexible screens and batteries.
Metal foams: metals with gas bubbles inside, making them light but strong. Used for crash protection and lightweight panels.
Titanium: strong, light and corrosion resistant. Used in aircraft, bike frames and medical implants.
Liquid crystal displays (LCDs): thin screens that use liquid crystals to show images, used in phones and TVs.
Nanomaterials: materials engineered at a tiny scale, such as self-cleaning glass or antibacterial coatings.

Smart materials change their properties in response to a change in their surroundings, then change back.
Shape memory alloys (such as nitinol) return to their original shape when heated. Used in glasses frames and stents.
Thermochromic pigments change colour with temperature. Used in kettles, baby spoons and mugs.
Photochromic pigments change colour with light. Used in sunglasses lenses that darken in sunlight.

A composite combines two or more materials to get better properties. Glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) is used for boat hulls; carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CRP) is used for racing bikes and sports cars.
Technical textiles are made for performance: conductive fabrics carry electricity (in wearable tech), fire-resistant fabrics protect firefighters, Kevlar is strong enough for body armour, and microfibres can hold micro-encapsulated scents or medicines.

Smart material: A material that changes its properties in response to a change in its surroundings.
Shape memory alloy: A metal that returns to its original shape when heated.
Thermochromic pigment: A pigment that changes colour with temperature.
Photochromic pigment: A pigment that changes colour with light.
Composite: A material made by combining two or more materials.
Graphene: A strong, light layer of carbon one atom thick.
Kevlar: A very strong synthetic fibre used in body armour.