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Fabrication of a Bioactive, PCL-based "Self-fitting" Shape Memory Polymer Scaffold
Published on: October 23, 2015
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Lignin-Based Triple Shape Memory Polymers.
Gopakumar Sivasankarapillai1, Hui Li1, Armando G McDonald1
1Renewable Materials Program, Department of Forest, Rangeland, and Fire Sciences, University of Idaho , Moscow, Idaho 83844-1132, United States.
Biomacromolecules
|July 28, 2015
Summary
New lignin-based polymers exhibit triple shape memory properties due to dual cross-links. Recovery stages are linked to specific polymer network compositions, offering tunable material performance.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
Background:
- Shape memory polymers (SMPs) are advanced materials capable of recovering their original shape when triggered by an external stimulus.
- Developing sustainable and functional SMPs is crucial for various applications, including smart textiles and biomedical devices.
- Lignin, a renewable biopolymer, presents an underutilized resource for creating novel functional materials.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and characterize novel lignin-based triple shape memory polymers.
- To investigate the relationship between polymer network composition and shape memory recovery behavior.
- To explore the potential of lignin as a primary component in advanced shape memory materials.
Main Methods:
- A one-pot, two-step synthesis method was employed to create lignin-copolymer networks.
- Hot mixing of poly(ester-amine) and poly(ester-amide) with a homogenized lignin fraction.
- Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) were used for thermal and mechanical characterization.
Main Results:
- Successfully synthesized lignin-based polymers exhibiting triple shape memory effects.
- Identified distinct recovery stages, with the first linked to lignin-poly(ester-amine) and the second to lignin-poly(ester-amide) networks.
- Demonstrated that shape recovery is governed by the interplay of glass transitions and hydrogen bonding dissociation.
Conclusions:
- Lignin can be effectively incorporated into polymer networks to achieve triple shape memory behavior.
- The distinct recovery stages offer a mechanism for controlled shape manipulation in materials.
- These findings open avenues for developing sustainable, high-performance shape memory polymers from biomass resources.
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