Want to show support for your favorite team? What if you could change the
color of your car to black and gold (or red and white) in seconds?
Scientists have developed a paramagnetic paint that can change color like a
football fan changes a T-shirt. It’s all part of the amazing world of
materials that’s covered in three-minute podcasts on “Materials
Radio,” a new service of ASM International, the materials information
society.
“Have a New Car Color Every Day” was written and produced by Andrea
Dangelewicz of the Clemson University Materials Advantage Chapter. Here’s
how the quick-change paint works:
While you drive, pushing a button sends electric current through a special
polymer paint containing paramagnetic nanoparticles. The current creates a magnetic
field that affects the spacing of crystals within the particles, which changes
their ability to reflect light…and voila! A white car becomes Steelers
black…or Cardinals red.
Nearly two-dozen podcasts on “Materials Around Us” and “The
Science of Materials” are available on Materials Radio to bring the excitement
of materials to middle school students, parents and teachers. Visit www.materialsradio.com
for free downloads.
Materials Radio is an initiative of the K-12 Education Subcommittee of ASM
International’s Education Committee. “The podcasts come from
the most creative minds in our university membership,” said K-12 chair
Jan Edwards. “Each one was written and recorded by Materials Advantage
students who want to share their love of materials with middle school students.”
“It’s all about making materials science accessible and fun.”