Shape-Memory Polymer Responds to Body Heat

Feb-11-16 A stretchable polymer able to return to its original shape when heated to body temperature could open the door to a range of biomedical applications, including artificial skin and wound treatments.

Developed by a team from the University of Rochester, the polymer elastomer differs from previous shape memory materials in that it can be triggered without the need for high temperatures. The team overcame the extreme temperature limitation by adding molecular linkers to the polymer chains that make up the material. This allowed the team to control the stability and temperature at which the material will react and return to its original state.

The team also improved on the material by optimizing the polymer networks in a way that allows it to lift or move one thousand times its own weight, further widening the range of possible applications.

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[GIZMAG.COM]
[ROCHESTER.EDU]

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