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Smart materials are materials that "remember" configurations and can conform to them when given a specific stimulus. These materials can respond to changes in electricity, heat, or magnetic waves. Smart materials are thus broken down into the following groups:

Electroactive

• Piezoelectric Materials
• Ionic Polymers
• Magneto/Electro-Rhological Fluids

Thermo-Active

• Shape-Memory Alloys

Magneto-Active

• Magneto/Electro-Rhological Fluids
• Magnetostrictive Materials

See the other information sheets for details on each type as well as examples of their applications.

Smart materials are ideal for machine design because:

• no or less moving parts required than with conventional materials
• very reliable
• low power requirements (if used ideally)
• can serve several functions at once (underlying principle in Biomimetics)
• fast-acting
• highly controllable

You Decide Intro
You Decide Scenario
You Decide Decision Making Process