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Polymers
Special Issues
Shape Memory Polymers IV
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Shape Memory Polymers IV

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Physics and Theory".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 May 2023) | Viewed by 8912

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Wei Min Huang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, Singapore
Interests: shape memory materials and technology; sensors and actuators; 4D printing
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Mehrshad Mehrpouya

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Engineering Technology (ET), University of Twente (UT), P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands
Interests: advanced manufacturing; 3D/4D printing; functional materials; modeling
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Zhen Ding

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Key Laboratory for Magnetic Resonance and Multimodality Imaging of Guangdong Province, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
Interests: shape memory polymers; 3D/4D printing; functional materials

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The shape memory phenomenon refers to the ability of a material to recover its permanent shape, but only in the presence of the right stimulus, such as heat, chemical or light. This kind of shape memory effect (SME) has been reported in numerous polymeric materials (including many engineering polymers and newly developed ones). The polymers with the SME are termed shape memory polymers (SMPs). As a SMP is able not only to maintain the temporary shape, but also to respond to the right stimulus when it is applied, via shape-shifting, a seamless integration of sensing and actuation functions is achieved within one single piece of material.

We have seen a number of applications of SMPs, from heat shrink tubes and anti-counterfeit labels to comfort fitting and 4D printing. However, we believe that these applications are merely the starting point, as the SMPs are potentially able to reshape product design, fabrication and recycling in many ways. The purpose of this Special Issue is to report the most recent progress within this rapidly developed exciting field, in particular, 4D printing, and to address all kinds of concerns in materials design, synthesis, characterization, modelling/simulation and application. Both review and original papers are invited for this Special Issue.

Dr. Wei Min Huang
Dr. Mehrshad Mehrpouya
Dr. Zhen Ding
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Polymers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • shape memory polymer
  • shape memory effect
  • stimulus
  • programming
  • mechanism
  • actuation
  • sensing
  • characterization
  • simulation
  • 4D printing

Related Special Issues

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 22064 KiB  
Article
Development of Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes/Halloysite Nanotubes Reinforced Thermal Responsive Shape Memory Polymer Nanocomposites for Enhanced Mechanical and Shape Recovery Characteristics in 4D Printing Applications
by Sivanagaraju Namathoti and Manikanta Ravindra Kumar Vakkalagadda
Polymers 2023, 15(6), 1371; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15061371 - 09 Mar 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1218
Abstract
The mechanical and shape-recovery characteristics of 4D-printed thermally responsive shape-memory polyurethane (SMPU) reinforced with two types of reinforcements, multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and Halloysite nanotubes (HNTs), are investigated in the present study. Three weight percentages of reinforcements (0, 0.5, and 1) in the [...] Read more.
The mechanical and shape-recovery characteristics of 4D-printed thermally responsive shape-memory polyurethane (SMPU) reinforced with two types of reinforcements, multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and Halloysite nanotubes (HNTs), are investigated in the present study. Three weight percentages of reinforcements (0, 0.5, and 1) in the SMPU matrix are considered, and the required composite specimens are obtained with 3D printing. Further, for the first time, the present study investigates the flexural test for multiple cycles to understand the 4D-printed specimens’ flexural behavior variation after shape recovery. The 1 wt% HNTS-reinforced specimen yielded higher tensile, flexural, and impact strengths. On the other hand, 1 wt% MWCNT-reinforced specimens exhibited quick shape recovery. Overall, enhanced mechanical properties were observed with HNT reinforcements, and a faster shape recovery was observed with MWCNT reinforcements. Further, the results are promising for the use of 4D-printed shape-memory polymer nanocomposites for repeated cycles even after a large bending deformation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Shape Memory Polymers IV)
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18 pages, 3231 KiB  
Article
Evolution of Shore Hardness under Uniaxial Tension/Compression in Body-Temperature Programmable Elastic Shape Memory Hybrids
by Balasundaram Selvan Naveen, Nivya Theresa Jose, Pranav Krishnan, Subham Mohapatra, Vivek Pendharkar, Nicholas Yuan Han Koh, Woon Yong Lim and Wei Min Huang
Polymers 2022, 14(22), 4872; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14224872 - 11 Nov 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2213
Abstract
Body-temperature programmable elastic shape memory hybrids (SMHs) have great potential for the comfortable fitting of wearable devices. Traditionally, shore hardness is commonly used in the characterization of elastic materials. In this paper, the evolution of shore hardness in body-temperature programmable elastic SMHs upon [...] Read more.
Body-temperature programmable elastic shape memory hybrids (SMHs) have great potential for the comfortable fitting of wearable devices. Traditionally, shore hardness is commonly used in the characterization of elastic materials. In this paper, the evolution of shore hardness in body-temperature programmable elastic SMHs upon cyclic loading, and during the shape memory cycle, is systematically investigated. Upon cyclic loading, similar to the Mullins effect, significant softening appears, when the applied strain is over a certain value. On the other hand, after programming, in general, the measured hardness increases with increase in programming strain. However, for certain surfaces, the hardness decreases slightly and then increases rapidly. The underlying mechanism for this phenomenon is explained by the formation of micro-gaps between the inclusion and the matrix after programming. After heating, to melt the inclusions, all samples (both cyclically loaded and programmed) largely recover their original hardness. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Shape Memory Polymers IV)
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12 pages, 2476 KiB  
Article
Influences of Crystallinity and Crosslinking Density on the Shape Recovery Force in Poly(ε-Caprolactone)-Based Shape-Memory Polymer Blends
by Ailifeire Fulati, Koichiro Uto and Mitsuhiro Ebara
Polymers 2022, 14(21), 4740; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14214740 - 04 Nov 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2347
Abstract
Shape-memory polymers (SMPs) show great potential in various emerging applications, such as artificial muscles, soft actuators, and biomedical devices, owing to their unique shape recovery-induced contraction force. However, the factors influencing this force remain unclear. Herein, we designed a simple polymer blending system [...] Read more.
Shape-memory polymers (SMPs) show great potential in various emerging applications, such as artificial muscles, soft actuators, and biomedical devices, owing to their unique shape recovery-induced contraction force. However, the factors influencing this force remain unclear. Herein, we designed a simple polymer blending system using a series of tetra-branched poly(ε-caprolactone)-based SMPs with long and short branch-chain lengths that demonstrate decreased crystallinity and increased crosslinking density gradients. The resultant polymer blends possessed mechanical properties manipulable across a wide range in accordance with the crystallinity gradient, such as stretchability (50.5–1419.5%) and toughness (0.62–130.4 MJ m−3), while maintaining excellent shape-memory properties. The experimental results show that crosslinking density affected the shape recovery force, which correlates to the SMPs’ energy storage capacity. Such a polymer blending system could provide new insights on how crystallinity and crosslinking density affect macroscopic thermal and mechanical properties as well as the shape recovery force of SMP networks, improving design capability for future applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Shape Memory Polymers IV)
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Graphical abstract

13 pages, 3423 KiB  
Article
Room-Temperature Solid-State UV Cross-Linkable Vitrimer-like Polymers for Additive Manufacturing
by Jian Chen, Ya Wen, Lingyi Zeng, Xinchun Wang, Hongmei Chen, Wei Min Huang, Yuefeng Bai, Wenhao Yu, Keqing Zhao and Ping Hu
Polymers 2022, 14(11), 2203; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14112203 - 29 May 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2318
Abstract
In this paper, a UV cross-linkable vitrimer-like polymer, ureidopyrimidinone functionalized telechelic polybutadiene, is reported. It is synthesized in two steps. First, 2(6-isocyanatohexylaminocarbonylamino)-6-methyl-4[1H]-pyrimidinone (UPy-NCO) reacts with hydroxy-functionalized polybutadiene (HTPB) to obtain UPy-HTPB-UPy, and then the resulted UPy-HTPB-UPy is cross-linked under 365 nm UV light [...] Read more.
In this paper, a UV cross-linkable vitrimer-like polymer, ureidopyrimidinone functionalized telechelic polybutadiene, is reported. It is synthesized in two steps. First, 2(6-isocyanatohexylaminocarbonylamino)-6-methyl-4[1H]-pyrimidinone (UPy-NCO) reacts with hydroxy-functionalized polybutadiene (HTPB) to obtain UPy-HTPB-UPy, and then the resulted UPy-HTPB-UPy is cross-linked under 365 nm UV light (photo-initiator: bimethoxy-2-phenylacetophenone, DMPA). Further investigation reveals that the density of cross-linking and mechanical properties of the resulting polymers can be tailored via varying the amount of photo-initiator and UV exposure time. Before UV cross-linking, UPy-HTPB-UPy is found to be vitrimer-like due to the quadruple hydrogen-bonding interactions. The UPy groups at the end of the chain also enable for rapid solidification upon the evaporation of the solvent. The unsaturated double bonds in the HTPB chains enable UPy-HTPB-UPy to be UV cross-linkable in the solid state at room temperature. After cross-linking, the polymers have good shape memory effect (SME). Here, we demonstrate that this type of polymer can have many potential applications in additive manufacturing. In the cases of fused deposition modelling (FDM) and direct ink writing (DIW), not only the strength of the interlayer bonding but also the strength of the polymer itself can be enhanced via UV exposure (from thermoplastic to thermoset) either during printing or after printing. The SME after cross-linking further helps to achieve rapid volumetric additive manufacturing anytime and anywhere. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Shape Memory Polymers IV)
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