SMART MATERIALS—MATERIALS THAT ADAPT TO CHANGING CONDITIONS - Chemistry: Notable Research and Discoveries - page 106

Peregrine falcon (Wildlife/Peter Arnold, Inc.)
need by excelling at one particular type of job, such as binding to a spe-
cific chemical or conducting a small amount of electrical current. If the
job changes, or the conditions under which the job is to be performed
changes, the material is no longer optimal and may not function at all.
To extend its performance range, a material must change and adapt—to
be “smart” rather than remaining static or fixed.
Smart materials are extremely efficient, performing a variety of jobs
that would otherwise require researchers and engineers to spend a lot of
time and money to develop and design a number of different substances.
Materials capable of multitasking are one of the most interesting and
promising frontiers of chemistry and materials science. This chapter de-
scribes research on a variety of materials and systems that exhibit some
degree of responsiveness to their environment.
InTroduCTIon
Which material is best for any given situation depends on the job re-
quirements. In airplanes and other flying vehicles, for example, the
frame and wings must be made of a strong material capable of safely
supporting the passengers and withstanding the powerful forces of high-
speed winds. Yet the material should be as lightweight as possible since