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Shape‐Memory Properties of Polyetherurethane Foams Prepared by Thermally Induced Phase Separation
Author(s) -
Sauter Tilman,
Lützow Karola,
Schossig Michael,
Kosmella Hans,
Weigel Thomas,
Kratz Karl,
Lendlein Andreas
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
advanced engineering materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.938
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 1527-2648
pISSN - 1438-1656
DOI - 10.1002/adem.201200127
Subject(s) - materials science , composite material , homogeneous , amorphous solid , shape memory alloy , phase (matter) , compression (physics) , polymer , bending , thermodynamics , chemistry , physics , organic chemistry
In this study, we report the preparation of two structurally different shape‐memory polymer foams by thermally induced phase separation (TIPS) from amorphous polyetherurethanes. Foams with either a homogeneous, monomodal, or with a hierarchically structured, bimodal, pore size distribution are obtained by adoption of the cooling protocol. The shape‐memory properties have been investigated for both foam structures by cyclic, thermomechanical experiments, while the morphological changes on the micro scale (pore level) have been compared to the macro scale by an in situ micro compression device experiment. The results show that the hierarchically structured foam achieves higher shape‐recovery rates and a higher total recovery as compared to the homogeneous foam, which is due to an increased energy storage capability by micro scale bending of the hierarchically structured foam compared to pure compression of the homogeneous foam.