Shape memory polymer with mechanical strength and low-temperature flexibility using a grafted functional group

ABSTRACT

We have researched the functionalized polyurethane (PU) that can exhibit a wide range of interesting performances unattainable from the ordinary PU. We found that the grafted Phenol Red sharply increased the tensile mechanical strength due to the chemical crosslinking by Phenol Red. In addition, shape recovery at 0°C improved from 24% up to 84%, and the shape retention at −30°C decreased as the Phenol Red content increased. The Phenol Red-grafted PU demonstrated flexibility, even at −50°C, and a full recovery at −5°C. Therefore, Phenol Red-grafted PU exhibited a sharp improvement in tensile stress, shape recovery, and low-temperature flexibility, which was not attainable in ordinary PU. The Phenol Red-grafted PU performed better than other functionalized PU we have developed.

KEYWORDS:

• Grafted structure
• low-temperature flexibility
• mechanical strength
• shape memory

Funding

This research was supported by Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education (NRF-2016R1D1A1B01014308)