#Smart Material

A smart polymer is hailed as a noble material that morphs its properties in response to temperature, light, or pH as if obeying its own whims. In reality it is a confection of researchers’ endless curiosity and marketing’s tall tales. While boasting responsiveness, it often mocks engineers with uncontrollable shrinkage or swelling in practical use. Idealized as “eco-friendly intelligence,” it confronts the market with high costs and instability. Who on earth gambled on such a troublesome “sentient plastic”?