Structures and fabricated articles having shape memory made from .alpha.-olefin/vinyl or vinylidene aromatic and/or hindered aliphatic vinyl or vinylidene interpolymers

A process for shaping and reshaping a structure or fabricated article from a polymer having an original modulus, wherein said process comprises;

• I) one or more applications of an energy source to said polymer which causes its modulus to decrease below said original modulus,
• II) shaping or conforming said structure or fabricated article into a prescribed position,
• III) removing said energy source which caused it to assume said prescribed position so as to regain said original modulus;
• and wherein said polymer comprises;
• (A) from about 1 to 100 wt % (based on the combined weights of Components A and B) of at least one substantially random interpolymer having an I.sub.2 of 0.1 to about 1,000 g/l 0 min and an M.sub.w /M.sub.n of from about 1.5 to about 20 which comprises;
• (1) from about 38 to about 65 mol % of polymer units derived from;
• (a) at least one vinyl or vinylidene aromatic monomer, or
• (b) at least one hindered aliphatic or cycloaliphatic vinyl or vinylidene monomer, or
• (c) a combination of at least one aromatic vinyl or vinylidene monomer and at least one hindered aliphatic or cycloaliphatic vinyl or vinylidene monomer, and
• (2) from about 35 to about 62 mol % of polymer units derived from ethylene and/or at least one C.sub.3-20 .alpha.-olefin;
• and
• (B) from 0 to about 99 wt % (based on the combined weights of Components A and B) of at least one polymer other than that of Component A;
• and
• (C) from 0 to about 50% by weight (based on the combined weights of components A, B, C and D) of at least one tackifier;
• and
• (D) from 0 to about 80% by weight (based on the combined weights of components A, B, C and D) of at least one filler.

A bicomponent fiber having shape memory behavior comprising;

• (I) a first component comprising from about 5 to 95 wt % (based on the combined weights of Components I and II) of
• (A) from about 1 to 100 wt % (based on the combined weights of Components A and B) of at least one substantially random interpolymer having an I.sub.2 of 0.1 to about 1,000 g/10 min and an M.sub.w /M.sub.n of from about 1.5 to about 20, which comprises;
• (1) from about 38 to about 65 mol % of polymer units derived from;
• (a) at least one vinyl or vinylidene aromatic monomer, or
• (b) at least one hindered aliphatic or cycloaliphatic vinyl or vinylidene monomer, or
• (c) a combination of at least one aromatic vinyl or vinylidene monomer and at least one hindered aliphatic or cycloaliphatic vinyl or vinylidene monomer, and
• (2) from about 35 to about 62 mol % of polymer units derived from ethylene and/or at least one C.sub.3-20 .alpha.-olefin;
• and
• (B) from 0 to about 99 wt % (based on the combined weights of Components A and B) of at least one polymer other than that of Component A;
• and
• (C) from 0 to about 50% by weight (based on the combined weights of components A, B, C and D) of at least one tackifier;
• and
• (D) from 0 to about 80% by weight (based on the combined weights of components A, B, C and D) of at least one filler;
• and
• (II) a second component, present in amount of from 5 to about 95 wt % (based on the combined weights of Components I and II) which comprises one or more of;
• A) an ethylene or .alpha.-olefin homopolymer or interpolymer;
• B) an ethylene/propylene rubber (EPM), ethylene/propylene diene monomer terpolymer (EPDM), isotactic polypropylene;
• C) a styrene/ethylene-butene copolymer, a styrene/ethylene-propylene copolymer, a styrene/ethylene-butene/styrene (SEBS) copolymer, a styrene/ethylene-propylene/styrene (SEPS) copolymer,
• D) the acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) polymers, styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN), high impact polystyrene,
• E) polyisoprene, polybutadiene, natural rubbers, ethylene/propylene rubbers, ethylene/propylene diene (EPDM) rubbers, styrene/butadiene rubbers, thermoplastic polyurethanes,
• F) epoxies, vinyl ester resins, polyurethanes, phenolic resins,
• G) homopolymers or copolymers of vinyl chloride or vinylidene chloride,
• H) poly(methylmethacrylate), polyester,nylon-6, nylon-6,6, poly(acetal);
• poly(amide), poly(arylate), poly(carbonate), poly(butylene) and polybutylene, polyethylene terephthalates.