Shape memory polymers and methods of making and use thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017145157-A1
Application number	US-201715423937-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 3, 2017
Priority date	Oct 29, 2014
Publication date	May 25, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

Described are shape memory polymers and methods of making shape memory polymers and actuators from the shape memory polymers.

First claim

1 . The shape memory polymer of claim 17 , wherein the partially crosslinked polymer is stretched along a direction to form a stretched, partially crosslinked polymer, and the stretched, partially crosslinked polymer is crosslinked to form the second portion of crosslinks.

2 . (canceled)

3 . The shape memory polymer of claim 16 , wherein the semi-crystalline polymer comprises a polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polytetrafluoroethylene, isotactic polypropylene, polyphenylene sulfide, polyetherketone, polyetheretherketone, polyphthalamide, polyetherketoneketone, thermoplastic polyimide, polybutylene terephthalate, polyoxymethylene, nylon, polyester, polyether, poly(caprolactone), or a copolymer thereof.

4 . (canceled)

5 . (canceled)

6 . (canceled)

7 . The shape memory polymer of claim 16 , wherein the second portion of crosslinks are formed by a photocrosslinking reaction which comprises photocuring with UV irradiation in the presence of a photoinitiator.

8 . (canceled)

9 . The shape memory polymer of claim 16 , wherein the shape memory polymer is formed at a temperature above the melting temperature of the shape memory polymer.

10 . (canceled)

11 . (canceled)

12 . The shape memory polymer of claim 1 , wherein the shape memory polymer has a loadless length, and wherein cooling the shape memory polymer to a temperature below the melting temperature of the shape memory polymer elongates the shape memory polymer along the direction to an elongated length, wherein the elongated length is from greater than 0 to 50% longer than the loadless length.

13 . (canceled)

14 . The shape memory polymer of claim 12 , wherein heating the shape memory polymer to a temperature above the melting temperature of the shape memory polymer, contracts the shape memory polymer along the direction from the elongated length to the loadless length.

15 . The shape memory polymer of claim 14 , wherein cooling the shape memory polymer to a temperature below the melting temperature of the shape memory polymer elongates the shape memory polymer along the direction to the elongated length.

16 . A shape memory polymer comprising a crosslinked polymer having a first portion of crosslinks and a second portion of crosslinks, wherein the first portion of crosslinks are Michael addition crosslinks and the second portion of crosslinks are photopolymerized crosslinks, and wherein the uncrosslinked polymer comprises a prepolymer, the prepolymer being a semi-crystalline polymer.

17 . The shape memory polymer of claim 16 , wherein prepolymer is partially crosslinked to form the first portion of crosslinks, thereby forming a partially crosslinked polymer.

18 . The shape memory polymer of claim 16 , wherein the prepolymer comprises poly(caprolactone).

19 . The shape memory polymer of claim 16 , wherein the prepolymer comprises acrylate end groups, and wherein the first portion of crosslinks are formed by partially crosslinking the acrylate end groups of the prepolymer comprises base-catalyzed Michael addition of the acrylate end groups of the prepolymer and a multifunctional thiol.

20 . (canceled)

21 . The shape memory polymer of claim 16 , wherein the second portion of crosslinks are formed after the first portion of crosslinks.

22 . The shape memory polymer of claim 12 , wherein the shape memory polymer elongates by 15% to 20% over a temperature change of 30° C.

23 . The shape memory polymer of claim 14 , wherein the shape memory polymer contracts by 15% to 20% over a temperature change of 30° C.

Assignees

• Anthamatten Mitchell
• Meng Yuan
• Univ Rochester

Inventors

• Anthamatten Mitchell
• Meng Yuan

Classifications

• C08J2367/04

  Polyesters derived from hydroxy carboxylic acids, e.g. lactones (C08J2367/06 takes precedence) · CPC title

• C08G63/912 Primary

  derived from hydroxycarboxylic acids · CPC title

• C08G2280/00

  Compositions for creating shape memory · CPC title

• C08J2367/07

  having terminal carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds · CPC title

• C08J3/243

  Two or more independent types of crosslinking for one or more polymers · CPC title