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Synthesis and Characterization of a Poly (styrene-block-methylacrylate-random-octadecylacrylate-block-styrene) Shape Memory ABA Triblock Copolymer
ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces
  • Pengzhan Fei, The University Of Akron
  • Kevin Cavicchi, The University of Akron
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
9-24-2010
Abstract

A new shape memory polymer (SMP) was prepared from an ABA triblock copolymer with polystyrene (PS) end blocks and a random copolymer midblock of poly(methylacrylate-random-octadecylacrylate) (PMA-r-PODA). The self-assembly of the triblock copolymer generates a three-dimensional, physically cross-linked network by the bridging of the midblocks across the glassy PS domains, which is used as the permanent network in the SMP. A second reversible network is generated by the side-chain crystallization of the PODA side-chains. Shape memory testing by uniaxial deformation and recovery of molded tensile bars demonstrated that shape fixities greater than 96% and shape recoveries greater than 98% were obtained for extensional strains up to 300%. Although some loss of properties was observed with cycling, the entirely physically cross-linked nature of the polymer allowed erasing of the sample history and recovery of the initial properties by annealing the sample at elevated temperature.

Citation Information
Pengzhan Fei and Kevin Cavicchi. "Synthesis and Characterization of a Poly (styrene-block-methylacrylate-random-octadecylacrylate-block-styrene) Shape Memory ABA Triblock Copolymer" ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces Vol. 2 Iss. 10 (2010) p. 2797 - 2803
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/kevin_cavicchi/2/