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Related Concept Videos

Polymer Classification: Stereospecificity01:26

Polymer Classification: Stereospecificity

Polymerization generates chiral centers along the entire backbone of a polymer chain. Accordingly, the stereochemistry of the substituent group has a significant effect on polymer properties. Polymers formed from monosubstituted alkene monomers feature chiral carbons at every alternate position in the polymer backbone. Relative to the predominant orientation of substituents at the adjacent chiral carbons, the polymer can exist in three different configurations: isotactic, syndiotactic, and...
Step-Growth Polymerization: Overview01:03

Step-Growth Polymerization: Overview

Step-growth or condensation polymerization is a stepwise reaction of bi or multifunctional monomers to form long-chain polymers. As all the monomers are reactive, most of the monomers are consumed at the early stages of the reaction to form small chains of reactive oligomers, which then combine to form long polymer chains in the late stages. Hence, the reaction has to proceed for a long time to achieve high molecular weight polymers.
Many natural and synthetic polymers are produced by...
Polymer Classification: Architecture01:14

Polymer Classification: Architecture

Polymers are classified as linear or branched on the basis of their chain architecture. The polymer chains in linear polymers have a long chain-like structure with minimal to no branching at all. Even if a polymer features large substituent groups on the monomer, which appear as branches to the skeleton, it is not considered a branched polymer. A branched polymer contains secondary polymer chains that arise from the main polymer chain. The branching occurs when the polymer growth shifts from...
Classification and Mechanical Properties of Synthetic Polymers01:28

Classification and Mechanical Properties of Synthetic Polymers

Synthetic polymers are classified as elastomers, fibers, or plastics based on their crystallinity. Crystallinity, the degree of long-range order in the solid state, influences the mechanical properties (stretching or contracting) of elastomers. Elastomers are flexible polymers that can expand or contract easily upon the application of an external force. They have numerous crosslinks that pull them back into their original shape when stress is removed. Silicones, for instance, are highly elastic...
Polymer Classification: Crystallinity01:21

Polymer Classification: Crystallinity

Unlike ionic or small covalent molecules, polymers do not form crystalline solids due to the diffusion limitations of their long-chain structures. However, polymers contain microscopic crystalline domains separated by amorphous domains.
Crystalline domains are the regions where polymer chains are aligned in an orderly manner and held together in proximity by intermolecular forces. For example, chains in the crystalline domains of polyethylene and nylon are bound together by van der Waals...
Molecular Weight of Step-Growth Polymers01:08

Molecular Weight of Step-Growth Polymers

Step growth polymerization involves bi or multifunctional monomers. Bifunctional monomers react to form linear step growth polymers, whereas multifunctional monomers react to form non-linear or branched polymers.
As the step-growth polymerization involves step-wise condensation of monomers, the molecular weight also builds up eventually. Consequently, high molecular weight polymers are obtained at the late stages of the polymerization, where 99% of monomers have been consumed.
The extent of the...

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Fabrication of a Bioactive, PCL-based "Self-fitting" Shape Memory Polymer Scaffold
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Published on: October 23, 2015

A general approach towards thermoplastic multishape-memory polymers via sequence structure design.

Yingwu Luo1, Yunlong Guo, Xiang Gao

  • 1The State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.

Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
|October 31, 2012
PubMed
Summary

This study demonstrates a poly(styrene-co-methyl acrylate) copolymer with multishape memory. The V-shaped gradient sequence allows recovery from multiple temporary shapes using temperature stimuli.

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Area of Science:

  • Polymer Chemistry
  • Materials Science

Background:

  • Copolymers often exhibit limited shape memory effects.
  • Controlled synthesis is key to advanced material properties.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To design a poly(styrene-co-methyl acrylate) copolymer with multi-shape memory capabilities.
  • To investigate the relationship between chain sequence and shape recovery.

Main Methods:

  • Controlled/living radical emulsion copolymerization was employed.
  • A V-shaped gradient chain sequence was specifically designed.
  • Temperature-induced shape recovery was tested.

Main Results:

  • The synthesized copolymer exhibited multi-shape memory behavior.
  • The V-shaped gradient sequence enabled sequential recovery from multiple temporary shapes.
  • Shape recovery was reliably triggered by temperature changes.

Conclusions:

  • The designed V-shaped gradient sequence in poly(styrene-co-methyl acrylate) is effective for achieving multi-shape memory.
  • This approach offers a pathway to advanced functional polymers with tunable shape recovery.
  • The copolymer shows potential for applications requiring complex shape-changing capabilities.