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Tunable polymer multi-shape memory effect

Author

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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)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Tao Xie, 2010. "Tunable polymer multi-shape memory effect," Nature, Nature, vol. 464(7286), pages 267-270, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:464:y:2010:i:7286:d:10.1038_nature08863
    DOI: 10.1038/nature08863
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    Cited by:

    1. Yue Zhang & Kangkang Liu & Tao Liu & Chujun Ni & Di Chen & Jiamei Guo & Chang Liu & Jian Zhou & Zheng Jia & Qian Zhao & Pengju Pan & Tao Xie, 2021. "Differential diffusion driven far-from-equilibrium shape-shifting of hydrogels," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-8, December.
    2. Lie Chen & Cong Zhao & Jin Huang & Jiajia Zhou & Mingjie Liu, 2022. "Enormous-stiffness-changing polymer networks by glass transition mediated microphase separation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-8, December.

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