Rubber-like shape memory polymeric materials with repeatable thermal-assisted healing function

• Main Authors: Wang, Chang Chun, Huang, Wei Min, Ding, Zheng, Purnawali, Hendra, He, Chaobin, Zhao, Y., Zheng, L. X., Fan, H.
• Other Authors: School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2013
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Mechanical engineering
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/97455; http://hdl.handle.net/10220/11983
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

A thermo-responsive shape memory polymeric material is reported, which is not only rubber-like from above to below its shape recovery temperature, but also has a repeatable thermal-assisted healing function. The mechanisms behind both features are identified. It is found that while micron-sized inclusions play a part in the shape memory effect (SME), tangled polymer chains contribute to the rubber-like phenomenon and repeatable thermal-assisted healing function atop the SME. This tangling effect enables a perfect combination of high elasticity, SME and repeatable thermal-assisted healing to be simultaneously achieved.