Slides that were presented during TMCE2014. The presentation describes the state of art in the application of shape memory polymers (SMP) in various consumer durable categories. A qualitative reasoning was performed to compare the status of applying SMP in different consumer durable categories. The slides demonstrate the emerging pattern from the qualitative reasoning. Towards the end, discussion and projection on the potential application areas are presented. The paper for this conference can be access via https://www.researchgate.net/publication/261513341_APPLICATION_OF_SHAPE_CHANGING_SMART_MATERIALS_IN_HOUSEHOLD_APPLIANCES_A_FRAGMENTED_AND_INCONSISTENT_UPTAKE

1. APPLICATION OF SHAPE CHANGING SMART MATERIALS
IN HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES: A FRAGMENTED AND
INCONSISTENT UPTAKE
Azrol Kassim, Imre Horváth Bart Gerritsen
A presentation by: AZROL KASSIM
10th International Symposium on Tools and Methods of Competitive Engineering
21st May 2014

2. SMART
MATERIAL
APPLICATION IN
CONSUMER
DURABLES
TRANSITION
Research Interest
ACHIEVING THROUGH PRODUCT DESIGN

3. Today’s presentation covers
• Introduction
• Background
- Application landscape
- motivation & objectives
• Methodology
• The application of SCSM in consumer durable
• Comparison between the applications
• Analysis of the findings
• Projecting the applications in household appliances
• Conclusion and propositions

4. Introduction
Shape changing smart materials
(SCSM)
engineered materials that retake their
original shape upon exposure to a
designated stimulus (e.g. electrical,
thermal, light, water)
Engineered
material
Shape changing
smart material
Thermal shape
memory polymer
Shape memory
alloy
Electro-active
polymer
Piezoelectric
material
Stimuli
responsive
material

5. Application landscape
SCSM application areas
Robotics Biomedical Aerospace
Rather limited
Consumer
durable
fragmented, showing an
inconsistent application pattern

6. Application landscape
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
CONSUMER
ELECTRONICS
Distribution of papers on the application of SCSM in 10
MEDICAL &
HEALTHCARE
WEARABLE
APPAREL
AUTOMOTIVE HOUSEHOLD
HARDWARE
HOUSEHOLD
APPLIANCES
SPORTS &
RECREATION
TOYS PACKAGING FURNITURE
consumer durable categories

7. Motivation
Challenges in the application of SCSM
Type of challenges Impact
Unresolved material
properties issues
Technology High
Lack of market &
functional acceptability
Business + technology Low
Lack of comprehensive
method for SCSM-product
inclusive design
Design + technology
High
Designers familiarity to
SCSM
Design High

8. Objectives
• investigate this phenomenon by describing its characteristics, using
household appliances as a research object
• Evaluate if the phenomenon is due to a mere knowledge gap for
product designers, or otherwise?
• exploring the interplay between SCSM knowledge offerings and the
product design aspects of material considerations which includes
(C1) material behaviour, (C2) aesthetics, (C3) application, (C4)
manufacturing, (C5) economic, and (C6) environmental & safety

9. Methodology
1. sorted literature according to consumer durable category
2. analyzed the considerations in the cases that are being compared
3. identify reasoning patterns occurring in the application of SCSM in
paired
4. In cases where the aspects was not considered, we tried to uncover the
background of the decision.

10. Transportation
Wearable
Apparel
Consumer
Electronics
Hardware
hardware
Medical &
Health Devices
Packaging Furniture
Household
appliances
Sport &
recreation
Toys
Comparing the application of SCSM
x x x x Mediocre number of applications
Limited number of applications

11. Material aspects Considered characteristics
Material behavior (C1) Physical Structural, volume, mechanical, thermal, electrical & chemical properties
Sensory Stimulation of senses by thermal, light, pH, or electrical
Aesthetics (C2) Appearance Colour choices, texture and pattern of material
Form giving Capability to manipulate SCSM to provide desired form and geometry
Application (C3) Function SCSM added functions for: sensing, deploying, actuating, self-repair,
fitting
Use Purpose of applying and the place of applying regarding the function of
SCSM
Manufacturing (C4) Process &
assembly
Possibilities to use SCSM with certain fabrication techniques
Finishing Possibilities of finishing SCSM by certain techniques, surface properties
Economic (C5) Material cost Market price of producing, installing or maintaining a SCSM based
component
Life-cycle Decompose readily by biological process (biodegradability) and
recyclability
Environmental and safety
(C6)
User safety Compatible with living system (biocompatible) and toxicity

12. RESULTS C1 Material behavior
CONSUMER
ELECTRONIC
WEARABLE
APPAREL
MEDICAL &
HEALTHCARE
AUTOMOTIVE
HOUSEHOLD
APPLIANCES
PHYSICAL
SENSORY
REVERSE PLASTICITY
TRANSITION TEMPERATURE
DAMPING CAPACITY
DENSITY
VISCOSITY
ELONGATION
MOISTURE PERMEABILITY
SUPER-ELASTICITY
THERMAL
ELECTRICAL
CONSIDERED
CHARACTERISTICS
HOUSEHOLD
HARDWARE

13. RESULTS C1 Material behavior
What patterns did we detect and our conjectures:
• Slight differences between consumer durable categories
• SCSM have been engineered to have different characteristics
because specific applications pose specific requirements
• benefitting from positive aspects only works with well-chosen
applications

14. RESULTS C2 Aesthetics
CONSUMER
ELECTRONIC
WEARABLE
APPAREL
MEDICAL &
HEALTHCARE
AUTOMOTIVE
HOUSEHOLD
APPLIANCES
CONSIDERED
CHARACTERISTICS
APPEARANCE
FORM GIVING
MULTI-COLOR
AVAILIBILITY
TACTILE QUALITY
OPACITY
GEOMETRIC
MANIPULATION
NO INFORMATION
HOUSEHOLD
HARDWARE

15. RESULTS C2 Aesthetics
What patterns did we detect and our conjectures:
• Dissimilar between internal and external use
• No consideration of SCSM when used as internal
components of products
• Considerations are made because external use of
SCSM provides more pleasing appearance in
replacement of conventional material use and
new form giving

16. RESULTS C3 Application
CONSUMER
ELECTRONIC
WEARABLE
APPAREL
MEDICAL &
HEALTHCARE
AUTOMOTIVE
HOUSEHOLD
APPLIANCES
SENSING + ACTUATING
SELF-HEALING
FITTING
DEPLOYING
PRODUCT SAFETY
ENERGY SAVING
FASHION
COMFORT
MECHANSIM IMPROVEMENT
SIZE REDUCTION
RECYCLING
HOUSEHOLD
HARDWARE
USER SAFETY

17. RESULTS C3 Application
What patterns did we detect and our conjectures:
• Different functionalities serve different purposes between CD
categories
• Sensing and actuating - product safety, user comfort, and energy
saving, and for recycling support
• Fitting - user safety and comfort, and energy saving
• Deploying - reducing product size, and support energy saving
• Self-healing can be used for product safety

18. C4 Manufacturing
RESULTS
Consumer product
category
Considered characteristics appearing in literature
Consumer electronic Compatible with injection moulding, thermoforming and extrusion
Wearable apparel Suitability for weaving, suitable for chemical, mechanical and thermal processing
Medical & healthcare suitability for chemical, mechanical and thermal processing
Household hardware Compatible with injection moulding, thermoforming and extrusion
Automotive Compatible with injection moulding, thermoforming and extrusion, other chemical,
mechanical processing
Household appliances Compatible with injection molding

19. C5 Economic
RESULTS
Consumer product
category
Considered characteristics appearing in literature
Consumer electronic Material, maintenance and installation cost
Wearable apparel Material and processing cost
Medical & healthcare material cost
Household hardware Material, maintenance and installation cost
Automotive Material, maintenance and installation cost
Household appliances Material and processing cost

20. RESULTS C6 Environmental & user safety
Consumer product
category
Considered characteristics appearing in literature
Consumer electronic Recyclability and biodegradability
Wearable apparel Recyclability, biodegradability, biocompatibility, toxicity
Medical & healthcare Biodegradability, biocompatibility, toxicity
Household hardware Recyclability
Automotive Recyclability and biodegradability
Household appliances Recyclability

21. RESULTS C4, C5 & C6
What patterns did we detect and our conjectures:
• Slight differences between CD
• economic aspects less transparent in literature
• Manufacturing process compatibility as a driver for
future application considerations
• SCSM can be considered for most applications to
support recyclability owing to good biodegradability

22. DISCUSSION
1. knowledge on SCSM has penetrated literature pervasively enough to
reject characterizing the daunting uptake as a mere knowledge gap
for consumer durable design
2. no fundamental and compelling reasons could be found, explaining
why the hesitating uptake of SCSM exist in HA applications
3. the knowledge on SCSM is not always presented in a form a
designer can use straight away (causal analysis for future research)

23. PROJECTING THE APPLICATION OF SCSM IN HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES
ADAPTIVE
ENERGY
SAVING
AESTHETICS
THROUGH
FORM
GIVING
ENHANCED
BIODEGRADIBILITY
& RECYLABILITY
SPACE
SAVING
ADAPTIVE
USER
COMFORT
SCSM
Adaptive switches
to control
energy usage
by responding to
environment
changes
Manipulation in the change
of shape to produce
aesthetic pleasing forms
Replacement to conventional motors
and actuators, deployment of
products from small packages or
operated in confined working space
User interface that adapts
Cost-effective
and eco-friendly
means for
recycling
electrical
components
to ergonomic needs