Foams having shape memory
OwnerVahid Sendijarevicinventor
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Abstract
The invention relates to a polymeric foam, preferably a polyurethane foam, having a glass transition temperature, Tg, which is at or above room temperature (21° C.). The foam is rigid at room temperature and elastic above the Tg. The foam has shape memory such that when it is deformed at a temperature above the Tg and the temperature is then lowered to room temperature or below, the foam retains its deformed shape, and when the temperature is then raised above the Tg the foam returns substantially to its original shape. In other words, the foam possesses hibernated elastic memory in the rigid state. The foam is also hydrophobic, which allows it to be used in many applications where hydrophilic foams are unsuitable.
Claims24
A crosslinked shape memory foam (SMF) polymeric composition produced by reacting an isocyanate and a polyol and having a glass transition temperature, Tg, which is at or above about room temperature (21° C.) the foam being rigid at about room temperature and elastic above about room temperature, the foam being hydrophobic, and the foam having shape memory such that when the foam is deformed at a temperature above the Tg and the temperature is then lowered to room temperature or below the foam retains its deformed shape, and when the temperature is then raised above the Tg the foam returns substantially to its original shape.
A crosslinked shape memory foam (SMF) polymeric composition produced by reacting an isocyanate and a aromatic polyester polyol and having a glass transition temperature, Tg, which is at or above about room temperature (21° C.), the foam being rigid at about room temperature and elastic above the Tg (above about room temperature), the foam being hydrophobic, and the foam having shape memory such that when the foam is deformed at a temperature above the Tg and the temperature is then lowered to room temperature or below the foam retains its deformed shape, and when the temperature is then raised above the Tg the foam returns substantially to its original shape.
A crosslinked shape memory foam (SMF) polymeric composition produced by reacting an isocyanate and a polycarbonate polyol and having a glass transition temperature, Tg, which is at or above about room temperature (21° C.), the foam being rigid at about room temperature and elastic above the Tg (above about room temperature), the foam being hydrophobic, and the foam having shape memory such that when the foam is deformed at a temperature above the Tg and the temperature is then lowered to room temperature or below the foam retains its deformed shape, and when the temperature is then raised above the Tg the foam returns substantially to its original shape.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.