Applications of shape-memory polymers, and their blends and composites

Abstract

In this chapter, applications of Shape-Memory Polymers (SMPs), and their blends and composites (SMPCs) are discussed. SMPs and SMPCs are a new class of stimuli-responsive smart materials that change their configuration reacting to specific external stimulus and remember the original shape. They are expected to have interesting applications in many engineering fields such as aerospace (e.g., in deployable structures and morphing wings), microelectronics (e.g., in flexible bioelectronics and active disassembly systems), automotive (e.g., automobile actuators and self-healing composite systems), and biomedical one (e.g., in stents and filters). This is mainly due to their lightweight, high shape reconfiguration, recovery force, good manufacturability, easily tailorable glass transition temperature, and low cost. After a brief description of SMPs, blends and their composites behavior, this chapter highlights the most attractive current and future applications.