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Step-growth or condensation polymerization is a stepwise reaction of bi or multifunctional monomers to form long-chain polymers. As all the monomers are reactive, most of the monomers are consumed at the early stages of the reaction to form small chains of reactive oligomers, which then combine to form long polymer chains in the late stages. Hence, the reaction has to proceed for a long time to achieve high molecular weight polymers.
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Updated: Jun 18, 2025

Fabrication of a Bioactive, PCL-based "Self-fitting" Shape Memory Polymer Scaffold

Fabrication of a Bioactive, PCL-based "Self-fitting" Shape Memory Polymer Scaffold

Published on: October 23, 2015

Shape Memory Polymers with Patternable Recovery Onset Regulated by Light.

Jiacheng Huang¹, Lintao Qiu², Chujun Ni³

¹State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.

Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)

|August 4, 2024

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

This study introduces a novel autonomous shape memory hydrogel (SMH) capable of multi-shape morphing. Light-activated molecular design allows programmable shape recovery without external triggers, enhancing material versatility.

Keywords:

multi‐shape morphing phase separation photo‐patterning responsive hydrogels shape memory polymers

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Synthesis of Programmable Main-chain Liquid-crystalline Elastomers Using a Two-stage Thiol-acrylate Reaction

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Published on: January 19, 2016

Area of Science:

Materials Science
Polymer Chemistry
Biomedical Engineering

Background:

Shape memory polymers (SMPs) offer shape-changing capabilities but often require external stimuli.
Autonomous SMPs provide stimuli-free shape-shifting but lack arbitrary multi-shape morphing.
Existing autonomous SMPs have limitations in programmable and complex shape transformations.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop a molecular design for autonomous shape memory hydrogels (SMHs) with spatio-temporal control over recovery onset.
To enable multi-shape morphing in SMHs without external stimulation.
To overcome the limitations of current autonomous SMPs in achieving arbitrary shape changes.

Main Methods:

Introducing nitrocinnamate groups into the SMH to enable light-induced crosslinking density adjustments.
Investigating the effect of crosslinking density on phase separation kinetics, the basis of autonomous shape memory behavior.
Utilizing masked light to create patterned recovery onsets for controlled multi-shape morphing.

Main Results:

The developed SMH allows for precise regulation of recovery onset between 0 to 85 minutes.
Light-induced crosslinking effectively modifies phase separation kinetics, controlling the autonomous recovery.
Demonstrated multi-shape morphing through patterned, light-defined recovery onsets without external triggers.

Conclusions:

A novel molecular design enables spatio-temporal control over autonomous shape memory hydrogel recovery.
This breakthrough allows for arbitrary multi-shape morphing in SMHs, significantly expanding their application potential.
The developed SMHs offer advanced, stimuli-free shape-shifting capabilities for soft robotics and biomedical devices.