Shape memory polymers formed by self-crosslinking of copolymers
AssigneeCornerstone Research Group, Inc.
InventorTat Hung Tong
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Abstract
The present discovery shows how to make a self-crosslinking SMP. Shape Memory Polymer (SMP) can be formulated as a castable coating. This process allows the polymer to dissolve in solvent, and as the solvent evaporates the polymers self-crosslink at room temperature in air, creating a copolymer coating wherein the copolymer coating is an SMP. This technology has coating applications where shape memory would be an asset: from shape memory textile and fabric to self-healing coatings for vehicles and morphing skins for aircraft.
Claims15
A self-crosslinking shape memory polymer comprising:
- a siloxane-acrylate polymer chain having a molecular weight of at least about 1000, the siloxane-acrylate polymer chain comprising at least one self-crosslinking functional group which will chemically self-crosslink when exposed to a self-crosslinking stimuli creating a chemically self-crosslinking shape memory polymer, wherein said self-crosslinking shape memory polymer obtains a cross-linking density of at least 2% and no more than 20%.
A self-crosslinking shape memory polymer comprising:
- a siloxane-acrylate polymer chain having a molecular weight of at least about 1000, the siloxane-acrylate polymer chain comprising at least one self-crosslinking functional group which will chemically self-crosslink when exposed to a self-crosslinking stimuli creating a chemically self-crosslinking shape memory polymer,
- wherein said self-crosslinking functional group is an alkylsiloxy functional group, and
- wherein said self-crosslinking stimuli has a water content in air greater than 3 grams per one kilogram of air.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.