A facile strategy to fabricate robust triple-shape memory polymer

Abstract

In recent years, crystalline small molecules have attracted extensive attention for preparing shape memory polymers (SMPs). However, their negative effect on the toughness of the material has been neglected. In this study, lauric acid (LA) and polyethylene oxide (PEO) were together melt-blended with polyolefin elastomer (POE) to prepare triple-SMP. The PEO played important roles not only in acting as the second switching phase, but also in significantly improving the toughness of the material. With the incorporation of PEO, the elongation at break increased from 150% to 1200%. In addition, the permanent shape of this novel triple-SMP could be randomly reconfigured via facile thermal treatment.