Smart materials are characterized by what feature?

Smart materials are defined by their ability to change properties in response to external stimuli, which can include factors such as temperature, pressure, electric field, magnetic field, moisture, or pH levels. This adaptability allows them to be used in a wide range of applications, from self-healing materials that can repair themselves after damage to shape memory alloys that return to a predetermined shape after being deformed.

This characteristic is what sets smart materials apart from conventional materials, which typically remain rigid in their properties and do not respond dynamically to environmental changes. The ability to modify their behavior and functionality makes smart materials especially valuable in modern engineering and technology development.

In contrast, not all smart materials are biodegradable or less expensive than traditional materials, nor do they inherently require no processing. The diversity in material types and their respective applications means that factors like cost and processing requirements can vary widely.