A designer is developing a baby feeding spoon that changes colour when the food on it is too hot for the baby to eat safely. (a) Name the type of smart mate...
Question 1 Report
A designer is developing a baby feeding spoon that changes colour when the food on it is too hot for the baby to eat safely.
(a) Name the type of smart material that would be applied to the spoon to indicate temperature. [1]
(b) Explain how this smart material helps parents avoid feeding the baby food that is too hot. [2]
Answer Details
(a) The smart material applied to the spoon to indicate temperature is a thermochromic pigment (also known as thermochromic ink). [1] Thermochromic pigments are smart materials that change colour reversibly in response to temperature changes, making them ideal for safety applications involving heat.
(b) The thermochromic pigment is applied to the surface of the spoon, typically as a coating or embedded in the plastic. At normal, safe feeding temperatures, the spoon appears one colour (for example, blue). [1] When hot food is placed on the spoon and the temperature exceeds a set threshold (for example, above 40 degrees C), the pigment changes to a distinctly different colour (or becomes transparent), giving the parent a clear, immediate visual warning that the food is still too hot for the baby. As the food cools back below the threshold, the pigment reverts to its original colour, signalling that it is now safe to feed. [1]
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