Modern Materials

Graphene

• Is a nanomaterial.
• A single, tightly packed layer of carbon atoms.
• They are bonded together in a hexagonal honeycomb lattice.
• Multiple layers of graphene form graphite.
• Has properties that make it useful in electronics and composites.
• Graphene is the thinnest compound known to man at one atom thick.
• Is between 100-300 times stronger than steel.
• It is also the best conductor of heat and the best conductor of electricity known.
• Graphene could provide a big step forward in electronic engineering
• Graphene might be used to produce flexible, robust, touchscreen devices such as mobile smartphones and wrist watches.

Metal Foam

• It is a cellular structure consisting of a solid metal with gas-filled pores.
• The metal foams are made from metals such as Aluminium,Titanium and Tantalum. 
• Typically only 5–25% of the volume is the base metal, making these materials highly porous and ultralight.
• The pores can be sealed (closed-cell foam) or interconnected (open-cell foam).
• Closed cell foams are used for structural applications requiring load-bearing features, and for weight-saving and impact-absorbing structures in vehicles.
• Open cell foam is ideal for vibration and sound absorption, filtration and catalysis at high temperatures, for heat exchange and in medical devices.
• Commercial production of closed-cell foams began in the 1990s.

Titanium 

• Is an example of a metal foam.
• It is used in aerospace, aircraft and engines where strong, lightweight, temperature-resistant materials are needed.

Coated Metals

• It is a metal with a coated layer on it.
• This layer could be nickel, a polymer or anodized aluminium.
• The coated layer prevents corrosion and wear.
• It also adds an attractive finish to cheap metals.
• They can be found on handles of tools such as plyers and screw drivers.
• It can also be found on benches and dishwasher racks.

Liquid Crystal Display

• Is a flat-panel display that uses the light-modulating properties of liquid crystals combined with polarizers. 
• Liquid crystals do not emit light directly, instead using a backlight or reflector to produce images in color or monochrome.
• Instead of firing electrons at a glass screen, an liquid crystal display has backlight that provides light to individual pixels arranged in a rectangular grid.
• It is commonly used in TVs and computer monitors.

Nanomaterials

• Nanomaterials are broadly defined as having at least one dimension below 100 nm (nanometres).
• They can be used as thin films or surface coatings, as on computer chips or as nanowires, nanotubes, or as blobs of tiny nanocrystalline particles.
• Nanoparticles improve the mechanical properties of a material, such as stiffness or elasticity. 
• When incorporated into polymers, they can be used as lightweight replacements for metals.
• Graphene is an examplpe of a nanomaterial.

Teflon

• Teflon is a synthetic chemical made up of carbon and fluorine atoms.
• It was first made in the 1930s, and provides a nonreactive, nonstick and almost frictionless surface.
• The nonstick surface makes Teflon-coated cookware convenient to use and easy to clean.
• In humans, Teflon toxicity causes polymer fume fever, a temporary, intense, though not very serious influenza-like syndrome,
• The toxic health effects of exposure to heated Teflon have been known for over 50 years.
• The chemical Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was used in non-stick Teflon pans up until 2015 and has been linked to many diseases such as breast cancer, prostate cancer, liver tumours and reduced fertility. This is due to the gases released when heating the pans.

Corn Starch Polymers

• As the name implies, corn starch biocompostables are made from corn starch.
• The starch is converted into a polymer, the main ingredient in materials that have a plastic-like feel.
• The plastics can be clear or opaque, soft or hard. 
• It can be  used for disposable items, such as packaging, crockery, cutlery, pots, bowls, and straws.
• In principle they could replace many applications for petroleum-derived plastics, however cost and performance remain problematic.
• It is biodegradable which is important for the environment. If disposed of correctly, packaging material made from cornstarch will break down into carbon dioxide and water within several months.