The nonlinear thermomechanical relationship in shape memory polymers (SMPs) has drawn considerable attention in many fields ranging from aeronautics to medicine largely due to their ability to withstand deformations several orders of magnitude larger than in shape memory alloys (SMAs). At high temperatures, SMPs share attributes with compliant elastomers and exhibit long-range reversibility. In contrast, at low temperatures they become very rigid and are susceptible to plastic, although recoverable, deformations.

Date Published: 2 April 2008
PDF: 10 pages
Proc. SPIE 6929, Behavior and Mechanics of Multifunctional and Composite Materials 2008, 69291H (2 April 2008); doi: 10.1117/12.777997

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 6929:
Behavior and Mechanics of Multifunctional and Composite Materials 2008
Marcelo J. Dapino; Zoubeida Ounaies, Editor(s)