Smart Materials
Materials that act as sensors in the presence of external signals
Development of smart materials for companies
Smart materials can modify their properties reversibly through an external stimulus. External stimuli are for example light, heat, humidity, electric fields, force, pH and some chemical compounds. These materials can have properties with a great projection of the future such as self-healing materials.
These materials can be identified as sensors, actuators or controllers as they react to the stimuli generating a useful response such as a color change with which the user can identify that something has changed.
In ATRIA we develop solutions based on smart materials from the stage of synthesis until its implementation in product.
What do we do in smart materials?
Technology selection
Materials development
Application
Tests and trials
How do we select in ATRIA a smart material?
Final effect that you want to obtain
First you must define what parameter you want to control and the effect that its modification must produce. The more precise and limited the requirements, the lower the costs of the research of the next stages.
Smart material selection
Analysis of economic and regulatory viability
Functional feasibility analysis and life tests
Hydrochromic
Hydrochromic materials change color in contact with water. Depending on their properties, they can turn transparent or change their color when they get wet. They can be integrated into fabric, clothing and paper. They are applied in various sectors such as security, advertising, toys, waterproof products …
Thermochromic
Thermochromic materials change color depending on the temperature. The color change occurs at a turning temperature that is determined by the type of material, and can be modified and controlled. Its functions are: temperature control, warning of defects and aesthetics.
Photoluminescent
Photoluminescent materials emit light radiation after being subjected to external stimulation. For example, if their surface is subjected to UV radiation, they can emit on the visible creating very interesting effects. It is used in various cases such as: security, aesthetic effects on posters, stickers, samples …
Graphene
Self-healing
Photochromic
What can we obtain with smart materials?
New aesthetics and designs
Through materials that modify their color with an external stimulus, new aesthetic effects can be provided to products . They also offer self-repairable products that eliminate aesthetic damage, such as bumps or abrasions, on a surface. Smart materials can provide the concept of flexible aesthetics.
Safety
WOW effect
New features
A very clear example are smart fabrics. In this way we can have a pulse counter directly on the clothes or even monitor the body temperature of a baby. Changes in color, conductivity or shape can indicate the user how to use a product or signal and identify the ways of using it.
Quality and performance evaluation
To ensure that the use of a product is carried out in its optimum condition, or that it has not suffered any damage or loss in its quality, thermochromic, hydrochromic or electrochromic markers can be used to report the quality of the product. Also, in the case of machines or equipment, they can indicate that they work according to their normal parameters.
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