What is SMP material?
Abstract. Shape memory polymer (SMP) is a stimuli-responsive material with the ability to alter a programmed shape to its original shape upon triggering of an appropriate stimulus. For the past decades, SMP has dragged much interest in material field owing to its various and versatile applications.
What is shape-memory polymer used for?
Because shape memory polymers can respond to temperature, light, pH and moisture, there are many very interesting possibilities for these materials in fabrics. These include comfort, aesthetics, wound monitoring, protection against environmental conditions, smart controlled drug release, and more.
What are shape memory polymers examples?
These polymers have been used to produce, among other things, medical devices such as stents and catheters. Typical examples of polymers which can exhibit this shape memory effect include (meth)acrylates, polyurethanes, and blends of polyurethane and polyvinylchloride.
What is thermoplastic memory?
Thermoplastic SMPs are important class of polymeric-based shape memory materials. In this class of SMPs, two phase morphology is the main cause of the thermally induced shape memory effect. One phase causes the physical crosslinking, and the other phase behaves as a molecular switch.
How are shape memory plastics made?
By conventional processing, e.g. extruding or injection molding, the polymer is formed into its initial, permanent shape B. Afterwards, in a process called programming, the polymer sample is deformed and fixed into the temporary shape A.
What is shape memory effect?
Shape memory effect (SME) is a phenomenon, in which a material recovers to its original size and shape when heated above a certain characteristic transformation temperature.
Is thermoplastic A smart material?
Smart and modern thermoplastic polymer materials are defined as novel thermoplastic materials that are capable of responding to external stimuli through a macroscopic output in which the energy of the stimulus is transduced appropriately as a function of external interference.
How is Nitinol used?
Nitinol wires are used in model heat engines made for demonstration purposes. This material is used in temperature controls. Its shape changing properties can be used for activating a variable resistor or a switch for controlling the temperature. This metal is often used in mechanical watch springs.
What is a commercial use of Nitinol?
Nitinol is highly biocompatible and has properties suitable for use in orthopedic implants. Due to Nitinol’s unique properties it has seen a large demand for use in less invasive medical devices. Nitinol tubing is commonly used in catheters, stents, and superelastic needles.