Shape memory polymers main applications

Recently, Lendlein et al. created a series of responsive shape memory polymers which are mechanically tough, biocompatible, and biodegradable, applicable to a number of biomedical apphcations [300,301,305]. Such shape memory polymers are achieved by copolymerizing precursors with different thermal characteristics such as the melting transition temperature. These shape memory polymers can be deformed into a temporary compressed state and they can recover the permanent shape only with the aid of an external stimulus such as temperature. This type of ape memory polymer mainly consists of two components (i) molecular switches—precmsors that can imdergo stimuh responsive deformation and can fix the formed tempo-... 

In this review, metal alloys and ceramics with shape memory effect will be briefly analysed focusing attention on the different mechanisms responsible for their shape fixity and on their main applications. Then, SMPs will be present, paying attention to their classification, based on the micro-structure of the polymer and on the stimulus capable of activating the recovery phases. 

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