Tunable polymer multi-shape memory effect

Tao Xie ()
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Tao Xie: Mail Code: 480-106-710, Chemical Sciences and Materials Systems Laboratory, General Motors Research and Development Center, 30500 Mound Road, Warren, Michigan 48090-9055, USA

Nature, 2010, vol. 464, issue 7286, 267-270

Abstract: Getting back into shape Shape memory polymers have been known for at least half a century. When deformed at a temperature defined by a specific phase transition, these materials retain the new shape on cooling, but regain their original shape on reheating. Currently known shape memory polymers are capable of memorizing one or two temporary shapes, and the starting shape. Now Tao Xie, working at the General Motors Research and Development Center in Warren, Michigan, reports a material that has at least a quadruple shape memory effect — that's three 'new' shapes plus the original. The material is perfluorosulphonic acid (PFSA or Nafion), a commercial ionomer that has been extensively studied due to its application as a fuel-cell proton exchange membrane. Its broad reversible phase transition means that the shape memory effect is highly tunable, without the need for chemical alteration.

Date: 2010
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DOI: 10.1038/nature08863

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