Carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) is a composite of carbon fibre strands woven together and encased in a polymer resin.

Properties: Lightweight and rigid, with a high tensile strength creating a high-performance engineering material. CFRP is instantly recognisable due to its woven appearance and whilst often painted or covered many designers will use the woven appearance to enhance the aesthetics of their product.

Uses: CFRP is found in the manufacture of both racing bikes and mountain bikes due to its strength-to-weight ratio and stiffness along with the ability to produce streamlined shapes. Other common uses of CFRP include Formula 1 components, high-performance sports equipment and in the aerospace industry.

Polymorph is a thermoforming polymer that is usually supplied in a granular form, often categorised as a smart material due to it becoming soft and pliable at a low temperature. It is often used in schools when modelling ergonomic features on a product.

Properties: When heated in water to 62°C, polymorph becomes soft, the granules merge together and create a volume of material that can be easily moulded by hand, solidifying when cool. It is a versatile modelling material that can be machined and shaped with hand tools when solid, and will become soft and pliable if reheated in water.

Uses: Polymorph can be used to make models, toys and ergonomic handles or to add grip to existing products.

Photochromic pigments change colour when exposed to light. This can be used in clothing but is most commonly found in photochromic lenses for glasses, which darken when exposed to ultraviolet light. This means that these glasses act as sunglasses on sunny days, but quickly change back to normal glasses when the lenses are no longer in sunlight.

Properties: When UV light (sunlight) reaches a photochromic surface the pigment will react and change colour. This can be from Clear to Shaded or from one colour to another. The pigment is found in powdered form, but can be injection moulded easily to form 3D shapes.

Uses: Photochromic products can be used to create reactive lenses in glasses and sunglasses, it can be added to fabric to change material colours and it can be used as a film in architecture and automotive design to reduce the need for blinds or sunshades.

Thermochromic materials change colour reversibly with changes in temperature. The change in colour occurs at a pre-determined temperature, which can be varied. The thermochromic colour change is distinguished by being quite noticeable, often dramatic and occurring over a small or sharp temperature interval.

Properties: By changing the structure of the pigment developers can achieve changes in state at prescribed temperatures - normally between 15 to 35 °C. The change can be effective if objects are heated or cooled and the product will revert back to its original state.

Uses: Thermochromic products can be used as safety devices to highlight if something is to hot or too cold. Often used in baby products i.e. spoons to ensure food doesn't burn their mouths. In drinks bottles it has been used to highlight it is cold enough to drink.

In more novel products it has been used in sports equipment during the Rio Olympics to highlight speed of Road Bikes. In clothing it can react to different colours or in Tea/Coffee mugs pictures can be revealed as hot liquid is poured into the cup.