Big industry is leading the way in smart materials innovation

Many people still think of smart materials as “futuristic technology,” but the reality is that they are already reshaping industries. They’re changing the way products are made and infrastructure is designed — and saving money in the process.

Often, without us even realizing it, the materials that surround us are getting smarter and smarter. It’s not just the smartphone in your pocket and the smartwatch on your wrist; it’s the insulation in your refrigerator, the coating on your car, the solar panels on your roof.

As we shared in our article on the smart materials revolution, “smart” materials have special characteristics like extreme heat and corrosion resistance or enhanced tensile strength. They “respond” to external stimuli. They can be coatings and gels, or nanomaterials used to make bigger, stronger hybrid materials.

Many of these materials are contributing to sustainability efforts, making processes or products that are better for the environment. Others contribute to making the ever more innovative products of our digital world.

Although people may not be aware that they are interacting with more smart materials, big manufacturers are certainly aware: Smart materials are the future of the chemicals and materials industry. This market is currently valued at $79.95 billion opens in new tab/window and projected to reach $212.8 billion by 2031.

Accordingly, many large industry players are leaning into smart materials projects and R&D.

Investment in manufacturing smart materials is on the rise

Growth in the development and manufacture of these materials is reflected in the building of new and expanded facilities. Many companies are showing that they believe in the future of smart materials by investing in expanding their production. For instance:

• Evonik announced opens in new tab/window last year that it would be expanding production of precipitated silica by 50% at its plant in Charleston, South Carolina. Silica is a substance used in tires to reduce rolling resistance and therefore lessen fuel consumption. “With this expansion, our state-of-the-art Charleston site becomes a major hub for precipitated and sustainable silica products in North America," said Lauren Kjeldsen, Head of the Smart Materials Division at Evonik, in a statement.

• Solvay has plans to build a brand new facility in Augusta, Georgia, to produce PVDF, a thermoplastic fluoropolymer used in batteries for electric vehicles (EVs). It is expected to be the largest production site in North America for EV materials. According to Solvay opens in new tab/window, their PVDF, which will also include raw materials supplied by Orbia, “enables electric vehicles to go farther on each charge, extends battery life and improves battery safety.”

• Kyocera AVX, which manufactures electronic components, is building a new facility in Penn State Behrend’s Knowledge Park. There, the company aims to annually produce 1.2 million high-precision crystal oscillators opens in new tab/window, which have applications for aerospace, military, autonomous vehicles and commercial drones.

Materials innovation is a high priority for big chemical firms

Major chemical companies keep growing their smart materials portfolios, demonstrating the growing demand for inventive materials that improve upon the weaknesses of more traditional materials.

Take the multinational chemical giant Dow, which produces everything from thermally conductive materials for energy-efficient lighting products to biodegradable industrial lubricants. In 2023, the company announced that it would be expanding its portfolio of silicone-based sealant products opens in new tab/window, specifically for photovoltaic (PV) module assembly. This is in response to increased usage of solar panels in building infrastructure and solar farms.

3M, the Minnesota-based corporation with its hand in countless materials from adhesives to electronic components, is now angling to be a leader in optical materials technology opens in new tab/window and has shown the viability of “pancake” lenses in virtual reality (VR) headsets. The 3M HARP Lens, the company’s own in-house folded optics design, allows for a 40% thinner VR headset, which will make this burgeoning technology much less cumbersome.

Mergers and acquisitions can be a kind of shortcut for major companies to boost innovation further. DuPont is already an innovator in a broad range of materials, like its Corian Solid Surface (which is hygienic and easily repairable) or bullet-resistant Kevlar. But in 2021, the company acquired Laird Performance Materials to be integrated into DuPont Electronics & Industrial's Interconnect Solutions (ICS) business.

DuPont noted in a press release opens in new tab/window that, “Laird Performance Materials’ electromagnetic shielding and thermal management offerings complement ICS’ portfolio in flexible laminates, dry film photoresist, specialty films, and plating chemistries.” DuPont anticipates that their combined expertise and resources will result in innovations that impact AI, telecommunications, EVs and high-performance computing.

Big global impact

While the ongoing innovation in the smart materials sector is not always headline-grabbing, it’s groundbreaking and important — for the environment as well as consumers. The introduction of a new type of foam may not seem thrilling at first glance, but if it is vastly more effective than traditional insulation — and significantly lessens the need for fuel to heat your home — that’s a big win for sustainability.

Many advances in smart materials are like this. It may not always be easy to explain why a new type of sheeting or a tiny electronic part is an exciting development, but they can eventually have an outsized impact.

As you know, it’s important for chemicals and materials industry professionals to keep up with these developments. To stay on top of the latest in smart materials research and breakthroughs, visit ScienceDirect. For access to materials databases, handbooks, tools and other great resources for engineers, check out Knovel.