3. Journey of Material Science
Stone Age
(9600-4000 B.C.)
Bronze Age
(4000-1300 B.C.)
Iron Age
(1300-500 B.C.)
Synthetic Age
(Present)
Age of Smart
Materials
Evolution of Materials
Introduction: Dawn of Civilization
3
4. What are Smart Materials ?
S - Significant
M - Measurable
A - Appropriate
R - Result-Specific
T - Time-Oriented
The materials that can significantly alter one or more of
their inherent properties as a response to some external
stimuli in a sustained and regulated way are termed as
SMART MATERIALS.
External
Stimuli Stress
Temperature
Moisture
pH
Magnetic
Field
Electric
field
4
5. Unique Properties Of
Smart Materials
Self Healing
Self Diagnosis
Stimuli-Sensitivity
Flexible
Encapsulation
Sensing and many more…..
5
8. Nanocomposites: A Milestone
• Nanocomposites are materials that incorporate
nanosized particles into a matrix of standard
material.
• The result of the addition of nanoparticles is a
drastic improvement in properties that can
include mechanical strength, toughness and
electrical or thermal conductivity.
Enhanced
Properties
Surface
Appearance
Electrical
Chemical
Resistance
Flame Retardancy
Mechanical
Gas, water
permeability
Optical Clarity
8
10. Enabling properties based on the fact that their surface is large
compared to their weight/volume
With small sizes, low energy dissipation and high processing
speeds become possible.
Obtaining properties not found in bulk or micro sized particles
How Nanomaterials are unique ???
10
11. Why Nano Materials ???
Four important ways in which
nanoscale materials may differ from
macroscale materials
– Gravitational forces become negligible and
electromagnetic forces begin to dominate
– Quantum mechanics is used to describe
motion and energy instead of classical
mechanics
– Greater surface to volume ratios
– Random molecular motion becomes more
important
At the nanoscale, some properties don’t
make sense, one example is boiling
temperature
– Vapor pressure becomes less and less
meaningful when you have smaller and smaller
numbers of particles
– When you have 50 molecules there are no
bubbles
Nano Cup Nano trees
Nano sunflower
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12. Nano: Size dependent
Properties
Optical (e.g color,
transparency)
Electrical (e.g conductivity)
Magnetic (dia, para, ferro etc.)
Physical (e.g melting point,
hardness)
Chemical (e.g Reactivity,
reaction rate)
Nanofabrication, nanodevices,
nanobiology, and nanocatalysis
12
13. Smart Materials and
Nanotechnology
Nanoscience and nanotechnology today offer an incredible potential for the
conceptual design and the practical realization of radically new smart
materials that can help solve some of the aforementioned global challenges.
Smart nanomaterials have captured a special niche for them
in every practical field. Starting from aircraft manufacturing
to biomedical fields, the use advanced nanotechnology for
various applications is fast trending.
13
14. Applications of Smart Nanomaterials
Applications
Drug Delivery
Sensing
Packaging
Construction
Wound Healing
Water Purification
Aerospace
Super Capacitors and many more…….
14
15. Nanocomposites in
Packaging
Nanocomposites represent a new alternative to conventional
technologies for improving polymer properties.
Packaging
Materials
Thermally stable
Chemical resistant
Biodegradable
Thermal insulation
Factors
High Gas barrier
Properties
15
15
16. Polymer
Nanocomposites in
Food Packaging
Anti-bacterial
High Moisture resistant
High Gas resistant
× √
× √By the incorporation of Ag , Au NPs
By the incorporation of layered
nanomaterials
Thermally stable
× √By the incorporation of nano
ceramic materials
Flammable Fire retardant 16
17. Why Hydrogels ????
Vs
Suitably designed
Hydrogel may be the
option…….
Intravenous delivery route is preferred where,
absorption of the drug is very poor at GI tract.
Oral delivery route is preferred where
frequent dose of the drug is required.
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18. 18
respond to environmental change
: temperature, pH, specific molecule
reversible volume phase transition or sol-gel phase
transition
“intelligent” or “smart” hydrogel
Environment-Sensitive Hydrogels
Nanocomposite Hydrogels
Drug release through
shrinking
Change in pH for
gel swelling
Change in temperature
for gel collapse
Drug release through the
swelling
Drug-loaded gel
20. 20
Conclusion
• Smart materials possess tuneable properties which can be
customized as per requirement.
• Nanocomposites are sustainable materials.
• Nanocomposites exhibit novel properties due to reinforcement
of nanofillers.
• Thermal, mechanical, biodegradation, gas barrier properties are
improved substantially by incorporation of nanostructures.
