Elsevier

Polymer

Volume 54, Issue 9, 19 April 2013, Pages 2199-2221
Polymer

Feature article
A review of stimuli-responsive shape memory polymer composites

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymer.2013.02.023Get rights and content
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open access

Abstract

The past decade has witnessed remarkable advances in stimuli-responsive shape memory polymers (SMPs) with potential applications in biomedical devices, aerospace, textiles, civil engineering, bionics engineering, energy, electronic engineering, and household products. Shape memory polymer composites (SMPCs) have further enhanced and broadened the applications of shape memory polymers. In addition to reinforcement, SMPCs can enable or enhance athermal stimuli-active effects, novel shape memory effect, and new functions. Many athermal stimuli-responsive effects have been achieved such as electroactive effect, magnetic-active effect, water-active effect, and photoactive effect. The typical examples of novel shape memory effects are multiple-shape memory effect, spatially controlled shape memory effect, and two-way shape memory effect. In addition, new functions of SMPCs have been observed and systemically studied such as stimuli-memory effect and self-healing. This feature article presents an up-to-date review on these versatile SMPCs. The various methods to fabricate these SMPCs and the performances of the SMPCs are discussed. The potential directions for future advancement in this field are also discussed.

Keywords

Stimuli-responsive polymer
Shape memory polymer
Smart composite

Abbreviations

CB
carbon black
CD
cyclodextrin
CNF
carbon nanofiber
CNP
carbon nanopaper
CNT
carbon nanotube
IPN
interpenetrating polymer network
MSME
multiple-shape memory effect
MSMP
multiple-shape memory polymer
MWCNT
multi-walled carbon nanotube
PCLDMA
poly(caprolactone) dimethacrylate
PEGMA
poly(ethylene glycol)mono-methylether-monomethacrylate
SMA
shape memory alloy
SME
shape memory effect
SMP
shape memory polymer
SMPC
shape memory polymer composite

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Harper Meng received his Ph.D. degree in Chemical Engineering and Materials from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. He is working with Professor Guoqiang Li at both Southern University and A&M College and Louisiana State University as a postdoctoral research associate. His research interests are in stimuli-responsive materials and light-weight composites.

Guoqiang Li received his Ph.D. degree from Southeast University, M.S. degree from Beijing University of Technology, and B.S. degree from Hebei University of Technology, all in Civil Engineering. He joined Professor Su-Seng Pang's group in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Louisiana State University in 1997 as a postdoctoral research associate, with research focus on polymer composite materials. He was then promoted to Research Assistant Professor in 2000. In 2003, he was hired as a tenure track Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at both Louisiana State University and Southern University (NSF Joint Faculty Appointment Program). He was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure in 2008, and promoted to Professor in 2012, at both universities. His current research focuses on experimental testing and physics-based mathematical modeling of shape memory polymer composite materials and self-healing composites using shape memory polymers. He has coauthored 140 papers in refereed journals, 1 book, and 4 book chapters.