Organic–inorganic shape memory thermoplastic polyurethane based on polycaprolactone and polydimethylsiloxane

Abstract

In this paper, we report a hybrid organic–inorganic thermoplastic shape memory polymer (SMP) that exhibits extremely fast-response time, with the switching temperature at body temperature and a thermoplasticity that allows for solvent processing. The polymers show good shape recovery (>95%) and shape fixity (>95%). The combination of organic–inorganic hybrid polymers in a linear chain could form a physical network structure that allows for exceptionally fast response upon being triggered at 40 °C.