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Narrow response temperature range with excellent reversible shape memory effect for semi-crystalline networks as soft
Dequan Chi1, Haoyu Gu1, Jingfeng Wang2
1MIIT Key Laboratory of Critical Materials Technology for New Energy Conversion and Storage, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, P. R. China. liuyy@hit.edu.cn.
Materials Horizons
|April 11, 2023
Summary
Researchers developed tunable shape memory networks with a narrow transition temperature range, achieving over 17% reversible strain. This breakthrough enables new possibilities for non-implantable biomedical applications, like drug delivery vehicles.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Reversible actuation in semi-crystalline shape memory networks typically relies on thermal fields, but their non-tunability limits applications.
- A wide response temperature range (T-range) is common in shape memory actuators, posing challenges for precise control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate the tunability of transition temperatures in shape memory networks while maintaining actuation abilities.
- To achieve a narrow T-range for enhanced control and explore potential biomedical applications.
Main Methods:
- Investigated semi-crystalline reversible shape memory networks.
- Optimized parameters to tune transition temperatures (T_high and T_low).
- Quantified reversible strain and evaluated actuation performance.
Main Results:
- Successfully demonstrated tunable transition temperatures in shape memory networks.
- Achieved a narrow T-range of 24°C, presenting over 17% reversible strain.
- Proposed a drug delivery and recovery vehicle concept based on the developed 2W-SMP.
Conclusions:
- Tunable transition temperatures enhance control over shape memory network actuation.
- A narrow T-range with significant reversible strain is achievable and beneficial for applications.
- The developed shape memory polymer (SMP) shows feasibility for non-implantable biomedical applications, including drug delivery systems.
