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Polymers
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Shape Memory Polymers and Multifunctional Composites: Materials, Properties, Fabrications, and...
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Shape Memory Polymers and Multifunctional Composites: Materials, Properties, Fabrications, and Applications

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2022) | Viewed by 14944

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Chung-Hao Lee

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, Gallogly College of Engineering, The University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USA
Interests: cardiovascular heart valve biomechanics; multi-scale modeling; biomaterials design
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Yingtao Liu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Oklahoma, 660 Parrington Oval, Norman, OK 73019, USA
Interests: additive manufacturing; advanced polymers and multifunctional composites; intelligent sensors and structures; nondestructive inspection; structural health monitoring and prognostics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues, 

The vision of programmable materials is to integrate an “on-demand” function into a material, which allows the material to automatically adapt to the changing environmental conditions in a predetermined manner. Shape memory polymers and composites belong to an emerging class of these programmable materials, with shape memory and recovery as triggered by an external property such as light exposure, temperature, or electricity. Recent advances in the experimental, theoretical, and computational investigations and developments have been made for a better understanding of the physical, chemical, and applied principles of stimuli-responsive (programmable) materials. These innovative developments have opened new research doors to in biomedical devices, aerospace, textiles, civil engineering, bionics engineering, energy, electronic engineering, and household products. 

This Special Issue on “Shape Memory Polymers and Composites: Materials, Properties, Fabrications, and Applications” will focus on original research papers and comprehensive reviews, dealing with more recent innovation and trends as well as cutting-edge research in the synthesis, processing and additive manufacturing of shape memory polymers and composites, as well as the development of programming routes for one-way and, in particular, for two-way shape memory effects. Topics of interest for this Special Issue include, but are not limited to, the following: 

  • Basic phenomena and theories
  • Materials, structures, and materials design
  • Material synthesis and functional properties
  • Thermo-mechanical characterizations and material-structure-property relationship
  • Constitutive modeling for shape memory polymers and/or multifunctional composites
  • Theoretical predictions and simulations for shape memory polymer and composite materials
  • Advanced manufacturing technology, such as 3D/4D printing with shape memory effects
  • Smart textiles for medicine and healthcare
  • Applications of shape memory polymers/composites:
    g., sensors, bio-inspired materials, biomimetic devices, wearable technology, tissue engineering, etc. 

All research areas considered relevant as long as experimentations, theoretical development, and/or predictive simulations are the main study focuses. 

Dr. Chung-Hao Lee
Dr. Yingtao Liu
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 polymers
  • Shape memory effect
  • Multi-stimuli responsive
  • Microstructure
  • Characterization
  • Advanced manufacturing
  • 3D/4D printing
  • Constitutive modeling
  • Simulation
  • Multifunctionality
  • Sensors and actuators
  • Bioinspired devices

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 1658 KiB  
Article
Self-Healable and Recyclable Dual-Shape Memory Liquid Metal–Elastomer Composites
by Xiaobo Deng, Guokang Chen, Yifan Liao, Xi Lu, Shuangyan Hu, Tiansheng Gan, Stephan Handschuh-Wang and Xueli Zhang
Polymers 2022, 14(11), 2259; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14112259 - 01 Jun 2022
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2930
Abstract
Liquid metal (LM)–polymer composites that combine the thermal and electrical conductivity of LMs with the shape-morphing capability of polymers are attracting a great deal of attention in the fields of reconfigurable electronics and soft robotics. However, investigation of the synergetic effect between the [...] Read more.
Liquid metal (LM)–polymer composites that combine the thermal and electrical conductivity of LMs with the shape-morphing capability of polymers are attracting a great deal of attention in the fields of reconfigurable electronics and soft robotics. However, investigation of the synergetic effect between the shape-changing properties of LMs and polymer matrices is lacking. Herein, a self-healable and recyclable dual-shape memory composite, comprising an LM (gallium) and a Diels–Alder (DA) crosslinked crystalline polyurethane (PU) elastomer, is reported. The composite exhibits a bilayer structure and achieves excellent shape programming abilities, due to the phase transitions of the LM and the crystalline PU elastomers. To demonstrate these shape-morphing abilities, a heat-triggered soft gripper, which can grasp and release objects according to the environmental temperature, is designed and built. Similarly, combining the electrical conductivity and the dual-shape memory effect of the composite, a light-controlled reconfigurable switch for a circuit is produced. In addition, due to the reversible nature of DA bonds, the composite is self-healable and recyclable. Both the LM and PU elastomer are recyclable, demonstrating the extremely high recycling efficiency (up to 96.7%) of the LM, as well as similar mechanical properties between the reprocessed elastomers and the pristine ones. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Shape Memory Polymers and Multifunctional Composites: Materials, Properties, Fabrications, and Applications)
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23 pages, 7714 KiB  
Article
Shape Memory Polymer Foam with Programmable Apertures
by Mario Walter, Fabian Friess, Martin Krus, Seyed Mohammad Hassan Zolanvari, Gunnar Grün, Hartmut Kröber and Thorsten Pretsch
Polymers 2020, 12(9), 1914; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12091914 - 25 Aug 2020
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 5293
Abstract
In this work, a novel type of polyester urethane urea (PEUU) foam is introduced. The foam was produced by reactive foaming using a mixture of poly(1,10–decamethylene adipate) diol and poly(1,4–butylene adipate) diol, 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate, 1,4–butanediol, diethanolamine and water as blowing agent. As determined [...] Read more.
In this work, a novel type of polyester urethane urea (PEUU) foam is introduced. The foam was produced by reactive foaming using a mixture of poly(1,10–decamethylene adipate) diol and poly(1,4–butylene adipate) diol, 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate, 1,4–butanediol, diethanolamine and water as blowing agent. As determined by differential scanning calorimetry, the melting of the ester-based phases occurred at temperatures in between 25 °C and 61 °C, while the crystallization transition spread from 48 °C to 20 °C. The mechanical properties of the foam were simulated with the hyperplastic models Neo-Hookean and Ogden, whereby the latter showed a better agreement with the experimental data as evidenced by a Pearson correlation coefficient R² above 0.99. Once thermomechanically treated, the foam exhibited a maximum actuation of 13.7% in heating-cooling cycles under a constant external load. In turn, thermal cycling under load-free conditions resulted in an actuation of more than 10%. Good thermal insulation properties were demonstrated by thermal conductivities of 0.039 W·(m·K)−1 in the pristine state and 0.052 W·(m·K)−1 in a state after compression by 50%, respectively. Finally, three demonstrators were developed, which closed an aperture or opened it again simply by changing the temperature. The self-sufficient material behavior is particularly promising in the construction industry, where programmable air slots offer the prospect of a dynamic insulation system for an adaptive building envelope. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Shape Memory Polymers and Multifunctional Composites: Materials, Properties, Fabrications, and Applications)
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Review

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20 pages, 4134 KiB  
Review
Recent Developments in Shape Memory Elastomers for Biotechnology Applications
by Supitta Suethao, Thridsawan Prasopdee, Kwanchai Buaksuntear, Darshil U. Shah and Wirasak Smitthipong
Polymers 2022, 14(16), 3276; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14163276 - 11 Aug 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2681
Abstract
Shape memory elastomers have revolutionised the world since their introduction in the 20th century. The ability to tailor chemical structures to produce a family of materials in wide-ranging forms with versatile properties has propelled them to be ubiquitous. Recent challenges in the end-of-life [...] Read more.
Shape memory elastomers have revolutionised the world since their introduction in the 20th century. The ability to tailor chemical structures to produce a family of materials in wide-ranging forms with versatile properties has propelled them to be ubiquitous. Recent challenges in the end-of-life management of polymeric materials should prompt us to ask, ‘what innovations in polymeric materials can make a strong case for their use as efficient materials?’ The development of smart elastomers that can acquire, convey, or process a stimulus (such as temperature, pressure, electromagnetic field, moisture, and chemical signals) and reply by creating a useful effect, specifically a reversible change in shape, is one such innovation. Here, we present a brief overview of shape memory elastomers (SMEs) and thereafter a review of recent advances in their development. We discuss the complex processing of structure-property relations and how they differ for a range of stimuli-responsive SMEs, self-healing SMEs, thermoplastic SMEs, and antibacterial and antifouling SMEs. Following innovations in SEMs, the SMEs are forecast to have significant potential in biotechnology based on their tailorable physical properties that are suited to a range of different external stimuli. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Shape Memory Polymers and Multifunctional Composites: Materials, Properties, Fabrications, and Applications)
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20 pages, 2383 KiB  
Review
Shape Memory Polymer-Based Endovascular Devices: Design Criteria and Future Perspective
by Sergio A. Pineda-Castillo, Aryn M. Stiles, Bradley N. Bohnstedt, Hyowon Lee, Yingtao Liu and Chung-Hao Lee
Polymers 2022, 14(13), 2526; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14132526 - 21 Jun 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3118
Abstract
Devices for the endovascular embolization of intracranial aneurysms (ICAs) face limitations related to suboptimal rates of lasting complete occlusion. Incomplete occlusion frequently leads to residual flow within the aneurysm sac, which subsequently causes aneurysm recurrence needing surgical re-operation. An emerging method for improving [...] Read more.
Devices for the endovascular embolization of intracranial aneurysms (ICAs) face limitations related to suboptimal rates of lasting complete occlusion. Incomplete occlusion frequently leads to residual flow within the aneurysm sac, which subsequently causes aneurysm recurrence needing surgical re-operation. An emerging method for improving the rates of complete occlusion both immediately after implant and in the longer run can be the fabrication of patient-specific materials for ICA embolization. Shape memory polymers (SMPs) are materials with great potential for this application, owing to their versatile and tunable shape memory properties that can be tailored to a patient’s aneurysm geometry and flow condition. In this review, we first present the state-of-the-art endovascular devices and their limitations in providing long-term complete occlusion. Then, we present methods for the fabrication of SMPs, the most prominent actuation methods for their shape recovery, and the potential of SMPs as endovascular devices for ICA embolization. Although SMPs are a promising alternative for the patient-specific treatment of ICAs, there are still limitations that need to be addressed for their application as an effective coil-free endovascular therapy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Shape Memory Polymers and Multifunctional Composites: Materials, Properties, Fabrications, and Applications)
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