Abstract
Shape memory polymers (SMPs) have the capacity to recover large strains whenpre-deformed at an elevated temperature, cooled to a lower temperature andreheated. The thermomechanical recovery behavior of an SMP is examined inthree-point flexure for various pre-deformation and recovery conditions. Resultsindicate that when pre-deformed well above the glass transition temperature,Tg, the stress–strain response at the pre-deformation temperature governsthe relationship between the recovery stress/strain and the correspondingpre-deformation strain/stress. When pre-deformed at a temperature belowTg, the relationship between recoverable stress and strain level in the SMP is not governed bythe stress–strain response of the material at the pre-deformation temperature. Rather, apeak recovery stress, which is less than the applied pre-deformation stress, appears nearTg. Higher cooling rates during constraint lower the temperature necessary for complete shapefixity, but increase the recoverable stress level. Higher heating rates during recovery raisethe recovery onset temperature and decrease the peak recoverable stress. Ramifications ofthe results on future research efforts and emerging applications of SMPs are discussed.
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