Method of fabricating shape memory films
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
InventorsLoon-Seng Tan, David Huabin Wang
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Abstract
A method for fabricating a shape memory polymer into a three-dimensional object is provided. The method includes forming a film of crosslinked poly(amic acid) on a substrate to provide a laminated substrate; forming the laminated substrate into a first configuration that is in a three-dimensional form; curing the cross-linked poly(amic acid) to provide the shape memory polymer having a permanent shape corresponding to the first configuration; and removing the substrate from the laminated substrate to provide the three-dimensional object comprising the shape memory polymer. The formation of the laminated substrate into the three-dimensional object may be based on origami techniques.
Claims18
A method for fabricating a shape memory polymer into a three-dimensional object, comprising:
- a) forming a solution comprising an amine-terminated poly(amic acid) intermediate, wherein the solution comprises a solvent and a reaction product obtained by reacting a stoichiometric excess of an aromatic diamine monomer and a di-anhydride-containing monomer;
- b) treating the solution comprising the amine-terminated poly(amic acid) intermediate with a multi-functional anhydride crosslinking agent to thereby form a sol-gel comprising a crosslinked poly(amic acid);
- c) forming a film of crosslinked poly(amic acid) on a substrate to provide a laminated substrate;
- d) forming the laminated substrate into a first configuration that is in a three-dimensional form;
- e) curing the cross-linked poly(amic acid) to provide the shape memory polymer having a permanent shape corresponding to the first configuration, wherein the shape memory polymer comprises a crosslinked polyimide or a crosslinked poly(amide-imide);
- and
- f) removing the substrate from the laminated substrate to provide the three-dimensional object comprising the shape memory polymer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.