Sequence-Rearranged Cocrystalline Polymer Network with Shape Reconfigurability and Tunable Switching Temperature.

Abstract

Switching temperature (Tsw) is a key parameter governing the service condition of shape memory polymers (SMPs). However, tuning Tsw of SMPs often requires sophisticated synthesis or intricate processing. Herein, we report a simple yet effective strategy to prepare the SMPs with tunable Tsw and good reconfigurability by using the cocrystalline polyesters as the reversible phase. The cocrystallizable copolyesters with rearranged sequences were prepared by the transesterification of mixed polyester diols and then photo-cross-linked to achieve the SMP networks. Cocrystallization of copolymer blocks endows the SMP networks tunable melting point and relatively high crystallinity, affording the network good shape fixing and recovery ability at body temperature. Besides, the dynamic nature of transesterification, that enables the network to have good shape reconfigurability, allows for the easy processing of SMPs with complicated shapes. The reconfigurable SMPs capable of actuating at the body temperature show great potential for use as biomedical devices.