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Technology Enhancement Programme
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These resources have been reviewed and selected by STEM Learning’s team of education specialists for factual accuracy and relevance to teaching STEM subjects in UK schools.
Smart Grease
This short film from the Technology Enhancement Programme (TEP) is one of a series of clips which were produced to demonstrate the properties and use of a range of smart materials.
Smart grease is a particularly sticky and viscous gel with almost magical shear characteristics. It can be used in prototype applications to improve performance or it can be used in novel applications such as wound-up motors to provide uniform speed and torque output. The example illustrated here is a simple elastic band motor comprising a pill container, elastic, wheel and securing/winding rod. If, under normal circumstances, the wheel is wound up and released, it will spin rapidly and slow down. If a tiny amount of smart grease is added between the friction surfaces, the wheel will turn at a uniform (very slow) speed and the stored energy will be released uniformly.
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