Advanced Shape Memory Technology to Reshape Product Design, Manufacturing and Recycling

Wen Yang,Wei Huang,Haibao Lu,Hang Qi,Xue Wu,Ke Sun

doi:10.3390/polym6082287

Wen Yang, Wei Huang + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/polym6082287

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Abstract

This paper provides a brief review on the advanced shape memory technology (ASMT) with a focus on polymeric materials. In addition to introducing the concept and fundamentals of the ASMT, the potential applications of the ASMT either alone or integrated with an existing mature technique (such as, 3D printing, quick response (QR) code, lenticular lens) and phenomena (e.g., wrinkling and stress-enhanced swelling effect) in product design, manufacturing, and recycling are demonstrated. It is concluded that the ASMT is indeed able to provide a range of powerful approaches to reshape part of the life cycle or the whole life cycle of products.

Highlights

The shape memory effect (SME) refers to the capability of a material to recover its original shape only when the right stimulus is applied [1,2,3,4]
The term of shape memory technology (SMT) was started to be mentioned in early 1990s, it was mainly meant for shape memory alloys (SMAs) and associated techniques for their engineering applications at that time [6]
A number of shape memory related new phenomena and techniques have been developed, so that the conventional SMT may be extended to advanced shape memory technology (ASMT), which mainly includes three parts, as follows:

Summary

Introduction

The shape memory effect (SME) refers to the capability of a material to recover its original shape only when the right stimulus is applied [1,2,3,4]. Recent development in shape memory polymers (SMPs) has revealed that the heating/chemo-responsive SME is an intrinsic feature of most polymeric materials, if not all [7]. A number of shape memory related new phenomena and techniques have been developed, so that the conventional SMT may be extended to advanced shape memory technology (ASMT), which mainly includes three parts, as follows:. Typical recent applications in design, manufacturing and recycling, which form a full life cycle of products, will be presented to reveal the potentials of the ASMT.

Working Mechanisms and Technologies

Design

Fabrication

Recycling

Findings

Conclusions