Chemically induced morphing in polyurethane shape memory polymer micro fibers/springs

• Main Authors: Wang, Chang Chun, Zhao, Yong, Purnawali, Hendra, Huang, Wei Min, Sun, Li
• Other Authors: School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2013
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/99722; http://hdl.handle.net/10220/10496
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Chemically induced morphing in polyurethane shape memory polymer (SMP) micro fibers/springs was investigated experimentally and theoretically. It was revealed that at the presence of water/ethanol, the release of the residual strain/stress (captured during the fabrication process of micro fibers/springs from melted polyurethane SMP) is the driving force for morphing (by means of self-winding and self-twisting/untwisting). A theoretical model was developed to explain the underlying mechanisms behind all types of observed morphing phenomena.