Optically transparent high temperature shape memory polymers
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Updated: Mar 28, 2026

Shape Memory Polymers for Active Cell Culture
Published on: July 4, 2011
Xinli Xiao1, Xueying Qiu2, Deyan Kong2
1Department of Chemistry, Harbin Institute of Technology, No. 92 West Dazhi Street, Harbin 150001, People's Republic of China and Centre for Composite Materials and Structures, Harbin Institute of Technology, No. 2 Yikuang Street, Harbin 150080, People's Republic of China. lengjs@hit.edu.cn.
Abstract:
Optically transparent shape memory polymers (SMPs) have potential in advanced optoelectronic and other common shape memory applications, and here optically transparent shape memory polyimide is reported for the first time. The polyimide possesses a glass transition temperature (Tg) of 171 °C, higher than the Tg of other transparent SMPs reported, and the influence of molecular structure on Tg is discussed. The 120 μm thick polyimide film exhibits transmittance higher than 81% in 450-800 nm, and the possible mechanism of its high transparency is analyzed, which will benefit further research on other transparent high temperature SMPs. The transparent polyimide showed excellent thermomechanical properties and shape memory performances, and retained high optical transparency after many shape memory cycles.
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