Shape-memory materials molecular mechanism

FIGURE 5.2.3 Classification of soft shape-memory materials from the viewpoint of nanoaivhitectonics. (a-c) Structures and (d) molecular mechanism, (a) Chemically cross-linked polymer network, (b) supramolecular network with clay nanosheets [29], and (c) inorganic/polymer composite network system, and their shape-memory profiles [30]. (d) The nanoscale molecular mechanism for one-way and two-way SME of a cross-linked semicrystalline polymer system. 

Like other polymeric materials, rheological modeling was first attempted to predict the constitutive behavior of SMPs. Although earher efforts [5-8] using rheological models were able to describe the characteristic thermomechanical behavior of SMPs, loss of the strain storage and release mechanisms usually led to limited prediction accuracy. Also, the models were 1-D and could only predict the behavior under a uniaxial stress condition, such as 1-D tension. Furthermore, these models can oidy work for a small strain. They cannot predict the thermomechanical behavior of SMPs with finite strain, which is the case for most SMPs. Later, meso-scale models [9,10] were developed to predict the constitutive behavior of SMPs. However, one limitation is that a meso-scale model cannot understand the shape memory mechanisms in detail because the mechanisms controlling the shape memory are in a molecular... 

A reduction of the required energy could be reached by the incorporation of conductive fillers such as heat conductive ceramics, carbon black and carbon nanotubes [103-105] as these materials allowed a better heat distribution between the heat source and the shape-memory devices. At the same time the incorporation of particles influenced the mechanical properties increased stiffness and recoverable strain levels could be reached by the incorporation of microscale particles [106, 107], while the usage of nanoscale particles enhanced stiffness and recoverable strain levels even more [108, 109]. When nanoscale particles are used to improve the photothermal effect and to enhance the mechanical properties, the molecular structure of the particles has to be considered. An inconsistent behavior in mechanical properties was observed by the reinforcement of polyesterurethanes with carbon nanotubes or carbon black or silicon carbide of similar size [3, 110]. While carbon black reinforced materials showed limited Ri around 25-30%, in carbon-nanotube reinforced polymers shape-recovery stresses increased and R s of almost 100% could be determined [110]. A synergism between the anisotropic carbon nanotubes and the crystallizing polyurethane switching segments was proposed as a possible... 

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