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Catalyst-Free Thermoset Polyurethane with Permanent Shape Reconfigurability and Highly Tunable Triple-Shape Memory
Ning Zheng1, Jingjing Hou1, Yang Xu1
1State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, 38 Zheda Road, Hangzhou 310027, P. R. China.
ACS Macro Letters
|May 25, 2022
Summary
This study introduces a new amorphous polyurethane shape memory polymer (SMP) that allows shape reconfiguration without catalysts. This tunable material offers versatile shape memory properties for advanced device applications.
Area of Science:
- Polymer Science
- Materials Science
- Materials Engineering
Background:
- Thermoset shape memory polymers (SMPs) with dynamic covalent bonds enable shape reconfiguration via topological rearrangement (plasticity).
- Catalyzed transcarbamoylation is an effective exchange reaction for plasticity in polyurethane networks, but network design is constrained, limiting property tuning.
- A need exists for SMPs with tunable properties and inherent plasticity without complex catalytic systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design a novel amorphous polyurethane system with adjustable cross-linking density for enhanced shape memory polymer (SMP) applications.
- To achieve plasticity in polyurethane networks without catalysts by incorporating aromatic diisocyanates.
- To develop a versatile SMP with tunable recovery stress, transition temperatures, and triple-shape memory performance.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of amorphous polyurethane networks with varying cross-linking densities.
- Investigation of plasticity in the synthesized polyurethanes, focusing on the role of aromatic diisocyanates.
- Characterization of shape memory properties, including recovery stress, transition temperatures, and triple-shape memory behavior.
Main Results:
- An amorphous polyurethane system was successfully designed with adjustable cross-linking density.
- Plasticity was achieved in the polyurethane networks without the need for catalysts, attributed to the use of aromatic diisocyanates.
- The developed polyurethane SMP exhibited tunable recovery stress and transition temperatures, alongside triple-shape memory performance, without compromising plasticity.
Conclusions:
- The developed amorphous polyurethane SMP offers a promising platform for advanced shape memory applications.
- The catalyst-free plasticity achieved through aromatic diisocyanate incorporation simplifies network design and enhances property tunability.
- This versatile material holds potential for various SMP device applications requiring reconfigurable and tunable shape memory effects.
