ABSTRACT

Shape-memory materials are able to change their shape by recovering a predetermined, memorized shape upon exposure to an external stimulus such as heat or light.

The shape-memory effect (SME) results from a combination of the material’s molecular structure and a suitable processing and programming technology. In this context, it is important to differentiate between

CONTENTS

4.1 Introduction to the Thermally Induced Shape-Memory Effect of Polymers ........................................................................................ 91

4.2 Investigation of the Dual-Shape Effect of Shape-Memory Polymers with Cyclic, Thermomechanical Tensile Tests ....................... 93

4.3 Investigation of the Triple-Shape Effect of Shape-Memory Polymers with Cyclic, Thermomechanical Tensile Tests ....................... 98

4.4 Thermomechanical Model Approaches for Simulation of the Shape-Memory Behavior of Polymers ......................................... 101

4.5 Summary and Outlook ............................................................................. 104 References ............................................................................................................. 105

intrinsic material properties, which are given by nature, and the functionality of the polymer, resulting from a combination of the polymer’s molecular architecture and a suitable process. The unexpected combination of different functionalities, such as the combination of biofunctionality, hydrolytic degradability, and shape-memory functionality, is referred to as multifunctionality. The development of such multifunctional materials is often motivated by the requirement of speci c applications [1,2], such as intelligent textiles, packaging, (dis)assembly technologies, or biomedical applications.