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Heating‐Responsive Shape‐Memory Effect in Thermoplastic Polyurethanes with Low Melt‐Flow Index
Author(s) -
Sun Li,
Huang Wei Min,
Lu Haibao,
Lim Kok Jiak,
Zhou Ye,
Wang Tao Xi,
Gao Xiang Yang
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
macromolecular chemistry and physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.57
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1521-3935
pISSN - 1022-1352
DOI - 10.1002/macp.201400429
Subject(s) - thermoplastic , melt flow index , materials science , shape memory polymer , composite material , polymer , melting temperature , thermoplastic polymer , flow (mathematics) , deformation (meteorology) , thermoplastic elastomer , impression , shape memory alloy , polymer chemistry , copolymer , mechanics , computer science , world wide web , physics
The heating‐responsive shape‐memory effect (SME) based on melting in two thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPUs) with low melt‐flow index is experimentally investigated. It is revealed that after severe deformation in either tension or impression at room temperature, upon heating to the melting temperature, significant shape recovery is achieved. The underlying mechanism for the heating‐responsive shape recovery (based on melting) in such a type of polymers without crosslinking is proposed. This mechanism is generic and should be applicable to most thermoplastic polymers with a low melt‐flow index.