Eur. Phys. J. E (2009) 28: 3-10
https://doi.org/10.1140/epje/i2008-10395-2

Regular Article

Shape memory effect of thermoplastic segmented polyurethanes with self-complementary quadruple hydrogen bonding in soft segments

Institute of Textiles and Clothing, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong, PRC

^* e-mail: tchujl@inet.polyu.edu.hk

Received: 18 March 2008
Revised: 21 August 2008
Accepted: 17 November 2008
Published online: 14 January 2009

Abstract

This paper describes the fact that a kind of thermoplastic shape memory polyurethane with self-complementary quadruple hydrogen bonding units in soft segments can present a significant shape memory effect under the usually used thermodynamic programming condition. Compared with the control sample, it was observed that the introduction of self-complementary quadruple hydrogen bonding into soft segments increases the glass transition temperature from 28.3 ^° C to 73.3 ^° C. Therefore, the temporary deformation can be fixed well after cooling at room temperature; subsequently thermal responsive shape memory recovery can be triggered by heating up to 86 ^° C. The immediate shape recovery ratio and shape fixity ratio can be 95.8% and 95.9%. Even after 24 hours relaxation for the stretched films, the corresponding R_r and R_f can be 94% and 60%. In contrast, the sample without quadruple hydrogen bonding shows that the elasticity and the deformation cannot be fixed after 24 hours relaxation.