A novel kind of thermoresponsive shape memory fiber was prepared by mixing the P(SA-co-AA) copolymers of stearyl acrylate (SA), and acrylic acid (AA), with PVA polyvinyl alcohol through chemically crosslinking after spinning. The molecular structure, thermomechanical properties and shape memory behaviors were investigated. It was found that the mixed P(SA-co-AA)/PVA fibers had crystalline structures and showed a dramatic change in Young's modulus at melting temperature (Tm) due to the reversible order-disorder transition. The mixed P(SA-co-AA)/PVA fibers also showed a good shape memory effect, through which the deformed fibers could recover to their original shapes and sizes within 40 seconds after they were heated above their Tm again.

Date Published: 1 November 2007
PDF: 7 pages
Proc. SPIE 6423, International Conference on Smart Materials and Nanotechnology in Engineering, 64233M (1 November 2007); doi: 10.1117/12.779391

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 6423:
International Conference on Smart Materials and Nanotechnology in Engineering
Shanyi Du; Jinsong Leng; Anand K. Asundi, Editor(s)