Final answer:
'Smart materials' are an emerging theme in engineering materials that can change their properties in response to external stimuli. Examples include shape memory alloys and piezoelectric materials.
Step-by-step explanation:
'Smart materials' is an emerging theme in engineering materials. These materials are designed to have properties that can change in response to external stimuli such as temperature, light, or electric current. Examples of smart materials include shape memory alloys that can recover their original shape after being deformed, and piezoelectric materials that generate an electric charge under mechanical stress. Smart materials have a wide range of applications in various fields, including aerospace, electronics, and medicine.
Smart materials in engineering are materials capable of responding to environmental changes, made possible by advancements in Materials Science and Engineering. They are pivotal in various sectors due to their adaptive properties, such as those employed in biomimetics and the creation of synthetic polymers with versatile applications.
The subject of 'smart materials' as an emerging theme in engineering materials encompasses the development and application of materials that can react and adapt to changes in their environment. This inclusion into the field of Materials Science and Engineering involves innovative synthesis techniques borrowed from chemistry and advanced characterization tools from physics, such as the atomic force microscope. Smart materials are influencing various engineering sectors by offering capabilities not found in conventional materials, whether it's in the form of biocompatible implants that facilitate the growth of cells for skin regeneration or polymers that could potentially replace environmentally harmful plastics.
For instance, the field of biomimetics exemplifies the utility of smart materials by integrating biological principles into engineering design to create materials that are tough, flexible, and lightweight. The use of polymeric macromolecules, inspired by natural materials, has spawned a range of new materials that are integral in applications as varied as fibers, adhesives, and resistant paints. Knowledge of material properties is crucial, as this informs the selection and engineering of materials at the molecular level, influencing characteristics such as elasticity, toughness, and resistivity, resulting in advancements across industries from aerospace to telecommunications.