Shape-Memory Polymer Composites

In Situ Generation of Green Hybrid Nanofibrillar Polymer-Polymer Composites-A Novel Approach to the Triple Shape Memory Polymer Formation

The paper discusses the possibility of using in situ generated hybrid polymer-polymer nanocomposites as polymeric materials with triple shape memory, which, unlike conventional polymer blends with triple shape memory, are characterized by fully separated phase transition temperatures and strongest bonding between the polymer blends phase interfaces which are critical to the shape fixing and recovery. This was demonstrated using the three-component system polylactide/polybutylene adipateterephthalate/cellulose nanofibers (PLA/PBAT/CNFs). The role of in situ generated PBAT nanofibers and CNFs in the formation of efficient physical crosslinks at PLA-PBAT, PLA-CNF and PBAT-CNF interfaces and the effect of CNFs on the PBAT fibrillation and crystallization processes were elucidated. The in situ generated composites showed drastically higher values of strain recovery ratios, strain fixity ratios, faster recovery rate and better mechanical properties compared to the blend.

Biodegradable shape-memory polymers and composites

Polymers have recently been making media headlines in various negative ways. To combat the negative view of those with no polymer experience, sustainable and biodegradable materials are constantly being researched. Shape-memory polymers, also known as SMPs, are a type of polymer material that is being extensively researched in the polymer industry. These SMPs can exhibit a change in shape because of an external stimulus. SMPs that are biodegradable or biocompatible are used extensively in medical applications. The use of biodegradable SMPs in the medical field has also led to research of the material in other applications. The following categories used to describe SMPs are discussed: net points, composition, stimulus, and shape-memory function. The addition of fillers or additives to the polymer matrix makes the SMP a polymer composite. Currently, biodegradable fillers are at the forefront of research because of the demand for sustainability. Common biodegradable fillers or fibers used in polymer composites are discussed in this chapter including Cordenka, hemp, and flax. Some other nonbiodegradable fillers commonly used in polymer composites are evaluated including clay, carbon nanotubes, bioactive glass, and Kevlar. The polymer and filler phase differences will be evaluated in this chapter. The recent advances in biodegradable shape-memory polymers and composites will provide a more positive perspective of the polymer industry and help to attain a more sustainable future.

Superwetting Shape Memory Microstructure: Smart Wetting Control and Practical Application

Smart control of wettability on superwetting surfaces has aroused much attention in the past few years. Compared with traditional strategies such as adjusting the surface chemistry, regulating the surface microstructure is more difficult, though it can bring lots of new functions. Recently, it was found that, based on the shape memory effect of a shape memory polymer, the surface microstructure can be controlled more easily and precisely. Here, recent developments in the smart control of wettability on superwetting shape memory microstructures and corresponding applications are summarized. The primary concern is the superhydrophobic surfaces that have demonstrated numerous attractive functions, including controllable droplet storage, transportation, bouncing, capture/release, and reprogrammable gradient wetting, under variation of the surface microstructure. Finally, some achievements in wetting control on other superwetting surfaces (such as superomniphobic surfaces and superslippery surfaces) and perspectives on future research directions are also discussed.

Shape memory effect of nano-ferromagnetic particle doped NiTi for orthopedic devices and rehabilitation techniques

This paper introduces a novel shape memory alloy (SMA) material for the controllability in the shape recovery of traditional SMA for orthopedic devices and rehabilitation techniques. The proposed material is formed by doping nano-ferromagnetic particle into porous NiTi alloy. The finite element analysis of shape memory effect property of the different distribution of nano-ferromagnetic particle is done and compared for same load and boundary conditions. The comparative analysis of the percentage change in volume deformation when load is released (for 2^nd step) shows an average of 2.55 % with standard deviation of 1.69 whereas on thermal loading (for 3^rd step) shows an average of 94.94% with standard deviation of 7.75 for all heterogeneous distribution of nano-particles in porous NiTi alloy. Our findings are, all the different conditions of heterogeneous distributions of nano-ferromagnetic particle doped NiTi alloy exhibits its inherent SME property.

Tailored high performance shape memory epoxy–silica nanocomposites. Structure design

The shape memory (SM) properties of polymers depend on material toughness and the efficiency of SM performance is governed by morphology and viscoelasticity.

Advances in Functional Assemblies for Regenerative Medicine

The ability to synthesise bioresponsive systems and selectively active biochemistries using polymer-based materials with supramolecular features has led to a surge in research interest directed towards their development as next generation biomaterials for drug delivery, medical device design and tissue engineering.

pH-Responsive Shape Memory Poly(ethylene glycol)-Poly(ε-caprolactone)-based Polyurethane/Cellulose Nanocrystals Nanocomposite

In this study, we developed a pH-responsive shape-memory polymer nanocomposite by blending poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(ε-caprolactone)-based polyurethane (PECU) with functionalized cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs). CNCs were functionalized with pyridine moieties (CNC-C6H4NO2) through hydroxyl substitution of CNCs with pyridine-4-carbonyl chloride and with carboxyl groups (CNC-CO2H) via 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy (TEMPO) mediated surface oxidation, respectively. At a high pH value, the CNC-C6H4NO2 had attractive interactions from the hydrogen bonding between pyridine groups and hydroxyl moieties; at a low pH value, the interactions reduced or disappeared due to the protonation of pyridine groups, which are a Lewis base. The CNC-CO2H responded to pH variation in an opposite manner. The hydrogen bonding interactions of both CNC-C6H4NO2 and CNC-CO2H can be readily disassociated by altering pH values, endowing the pH-responsiveness of CNCs. When these functionalized CNCs were added in PECU polymer matrix to form nanocomposite network which was confirmed with rheological measurements, the mechanical properties of PECU were not only obviously improved but also the pH-responsiveness of CNCs could be transferred to the nanocomposite network. The pH-sensitive CNC percolation network in polymer matrix served as the switch units of shape-memory polymers (SMPs). Furthermore, the modified CNC percolation network and polymer molecular chains also had strong hydrogen bonding interactions among hydroxyl, carboxyl, pyridine moieties, and isocyanate groups, which could be formed or destroyed through changing pH value. The shape memory function of the nanocomposite network was only dependent on the pH variation of the environment. Therefore, this pH-responsive shape-memory nancomposite could be potentially developed into a new smart polymer material.

Triple shape-memory effect by silanized polyurethane/silane-functionalized graphene oxide nanocomposites bilayer

Graphene oxide (GO) was chemically modified with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) (f-GO) and incorporated into silanized polyurethanes of two different molecular weights and chemical compositions by sol–gel reactions, and the effects were studied in terms of mechanical, dynamic mechanical, and dual and triple shape-memory polymers (DSMP and TSMP, respectively) of the nanocomposite films. It was found that the f-GO nanoparticles act as multifunctional cross-links as well as reinforcing fillers and significantly augmented the glassy and rubbery state moduli, yield strength, break strength, glass transition temperature, and dual shape-memory properties. A cohesive bilayer of the two films (lower layer and upper layer) fabricated by the interpenetrating polymer network technique exhibited synergistic mechanical properties in the glassy and rubbery states along with two undisturbed glass transitions by which an intermediate plateau region and TSMP were demonstrated.

Shape-reprogrammable polymers: encoding, erasing, and re-encoding

Shape-reprogramming in a polymer is demonstrated, where prescribed 3D geometric information can be encoded, decoded, erased, and re-encoded. In essence, the shape-reprogrammable polymer (SRP) acts as computer hardware that can be reformatted and reprogrammed repeatedly. Such SRPs have the potential to be repurposed directly without going through material disposal and recycling.

Shape Memory Performance of Thermoplastic Amphiphilic Triblock Copolymer poly(D,L-lactic acid-co-ethylene glycol-co-D,L-lactic acid) (PELA)/Hydroxyapatite Composites

Biodegradable polymer/hydroxyapatite (HA) composites are desired for skeletal tissue engineering. When engineered with thermal-responsive shape memory properties, they may be delivered in a minimally invasive temporary shape and subsequently triggered to conform to a tissue defect. Here we report the shape memory properties of thermoplastic amphiphilic poly(D,L-lactic acid-co-ethylene glycol-co-D,L-lactic acid) (PELA, 120 kDa) and HA-PELA composites. These materials can be cold-deformed and stably fixed into temporary shapes at room temperature and undergo rapid shape recovery (< 3 s) at 50 °C. Stable fixation (>99% fixing ratio) of large deformations is achieved at -20 °C. While the shape recovery from tensile deformations slows with higher HA contents, all composites (up to 20 wt% HA) achieve high shape recovery (>90%) upon 10-min equilibration at 50 °C. The permanent shapes of HA-PELA can be reprogramed at 50 °C, and macroporous shape memory scaffolds can be fabricated by rapid prototyping.

3D networked graphene-ferromagnetic hybrids for fast shape memory polymers with enhanced mechanical stiffness and thermal conductivity

A novel 3D networked graphene-ferromagnetic hybrid can be easily fabricated using one-step microwave irradiation. By incorporating this hybrid material into shape memory polymers, the synergistic effects of fast speed and the enhancement of thermal conductivity and mechanical stiffness can be achieved. This can be broadly applicable to designing magneto-responsive shape memory polymers for multifunction applications.

A soft shape memory reactor with controllable catalysis characteristics

A kind of two-layer hydrogel with temperature responsive shape-memory performance is reported, which demonstrates a tunable catalytic activity.

Influence of a polyester coating of magnetic nanoparticles on magnetic heating behavior of shape-memory polymer-based composites

BACKGROUND

Magnetic composites of thermosensitive shape-memory polymers (SMPs) and magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) allow noncontact actuation of the shape-memory effect in an alternating magnetic field. In this study, we investigated whether the magnetic heating capability of cross-linked poly(ε-caprolactone)/MNP composites (cPCLC) could be improved by covalent coating of MNPs with oligo(ε-caprolactone) (OCL).

METHODS

Two different types of cPCLC containing uncoated and OCL-coated MNP with identical magnetite weight content were prepared by thermally induced polymerization of poly(ε-caprolactone) diisocyanatoethyl methacrylate. Both cPCLCs exhibited a melting transition at Tm = 48°C, which could be used as switching transition.

RESULTS

The dispersion of the embedded nanoparticles within the polymer matrix could be substantially improved, when the OCL-coated MNPs were used, as visualized by scanning electron microscopy. We could further demonstrate that in this way the maximal achievable bulk temperature (Tbulk) obtained within the cPCLC test specimen in magnetic heating experiments at a magnetic field strength of H = 30 kA·m(-1) could be increased from Tbulk = 48°C to Tbulk = 74°C.

Recent insights into the biomedical applications of shape-memory polymers

Shape-memory polymers (SMP) are versatile stimuli-responsive materials that can switch, upon stimulation, from a temporary to a permanent shape. This advanced functionality makes SMP suitable and promising materials for diverse technological applications, including the fabrication of smart biomedical devices. In this paper, advances in the design of SMP are discussed, with emphasis on materials investigated for medical applications. Future directions necessary to bring SMP closer to their clinical application are also highlighted.

Remote, local, and chemical programming of healable multishape memory polymer nanocomposites

We show that the combination of remote, local, and chemical programming of the multishape memory effects offers unparalleled shape and function control in carbon nanotube-Nafion composites. This strategy not only allows the high-fidelity encoding and extraction of designed material shapes at different length scales (macro, micro, and nano) but also enables the reversible tunability of material functions, such as shape memorizability, mechanical properties, surface hydrophobicity, and material resealability, in a single nanocomposite.

Organic–inorganic nanocomposites for shape memory effects

Polyurethane (PU)–silica nanocomposites were synthesized by sol–gel reactions between the surface silanol groups of fumed silica and 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) terminated PU with a broad range of silica contents (1–5%) with two different molecular weights of PU. It was found that the silica particles that were incorporated into the polymer chains were well dispersed in the PU matrix and acted as multifunctional cross-links and reinforcing fillers; in addition, the silica particles augmented the initial and rubbery moduli, yield, and break strengths, as well as the glass transition temperature. Moreover, 98–99% shape fixity and shape recovery with minimum cyclic hysteresis were obtained with only 1% silica particle loading.

Gelatin functionalization with tyrosine derived moieties to increase the interaction with hydroxyapatite fillers

Combining gelatins functionalized with the tyrosine-derived groups desaminotyrosine or desaminotyrosyl tyrosine with hydroxyapatite (HAp) led to the formation of composite materials with much lower swelling ratios than those of the pure matrices. Shifts of the infra-red (IR) bands related to the free carboxyl groups could be observed in the presence of HAp, which suggested a direct interaction of matrix and filler that formed additional physical cross-links in the material. In tensile tests and rheological measurements the composites equilibrated in water had increased Young's moduli (from 200 kPa up to 2 MPa) and tensile strengths (from 57 kPa up to 1.1 MPa) compared with the matrix polymers without affecting the elongation at break. Furthermore, an increased thermal stability of the networks from 40 to 85°C could be demonstrated. The differences in the behaviour of the functionalized gelatins compared with pure gelatin as a matrix suggested an additional stabilizing bond between the incorporated aromatic groups and the HAp as supported by the IR results. The composites can potentially be applied as bone fillers.