Strategy for Fabricating Multiple-Shape-Memory Polymeric Materials via the Multilayer Assembly of Co-Continuous...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Science
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Shape-memory polymers (SMPs) are advanced materials capable of recovering their original shape after deformation.
• Achieving multiple shape-memory effects (dual or triple) and high performance in SMPs remains a challenge.
• Multilayer structures offer unique properties compared to simple blends or composites.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate and characterize novel multilayer shape-memory polymeric materials.
• To investigate the dual- and triple-shape-memory effects in these materials.
• To evaluate the shape fixity and recovery performance of the multilayer system.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of multilayer shape-memory polymeric materials using layer-multiplying coextrusion.
• Materials consisted of alternating layers of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and co-continuous poly(butylene succinate)/polycaprolactone (PBS/PCL) blends.
• Characterization of shape-memory properties, including shape fixity and recovery ratios, under dual- and triple-shape-memory conditions.

Main Results:

• The fabricated TPU/SLB multilayer system demonstrated superior shape fixity and recovery compared to blending specimens.
• With 128 layers, shape fixity exceeded 95% and recovery ratios surpassed 85% for both dual- and triple-shape-memory processes.
• The multilayer structure with abundant interfaces facilitated enhanced shape fixing and recovery through interfacial shearing effects.

Conclusions:

• The developed layer-multiplying coextrusion approach is an efficient strategy for creating high-performance multiple-shape-memory polymers.
• These advanced multilayer SMPs exhibit excellent shape fixity and recovery, surpassing conventional methods.
• Potential applications include biomedical devices, sensors, and actuators requiring complex shape-memory functionalities.