Crosslinking of Semiaromatic Polyesters toward High-Temperature Shape Memory Polymers with Full Recovery.

In this work, high-temperature shape memory polymers are realized by end-group crosslinking of the semiaromatic polyesters polyethylene terephthalate as well as polybutylene terephthalate. Both networks exhibit trigger temperatures distinctly higher than 200 °C and excellent shape memory properties such as storable strains of 200%, full fixity of the applied strain in the temporary shape, and full recovery of the permanent shape.

Heating Rate Sensitive Multi-Shape Memory Polypropylene: A Predictive Material.

Here we report on a novel type of smart material that is capable of specifically responding to the changing rate of an environmental signal. This is shown on the example of lightly cross-linked syndiotactic polypropylene that reacts to a temperature increase by adapting its shape change according to the applied heating rate. In general, a material with such properties can be used to predict a system failure when used in a defined environment and is therefore called "predictive material".

Shape-Memory PVDF Exhibiting Switchable Piezoelectricity.

In this study, a material is designed which combines the properties of shape-memory and electroactive polymers. This is achieved by covalent cross-linking of polyvinylidene fluoride. The resulting polymer network exhibits excellent shape-memory properties with a storable strain of 200%, and fixity as well as recovery values of 100%.

Chemical cross-linking of polypropylenes towards new shape memory polymers.

In this work, syndiotactic polypropylene (sPP) as well as isotactic polypropylene (iPP) are cross-linked to gain a shape memory effect. Both prepared PP networks exhibit maximum strains of 700%, stored strains of up to 680%, and recoveries of nearly 100%. While x-iPP is stable for many cycles, x-sPP ruptures after the first shape-memory cycle.