In shape-memory polymers, changes in shape are mostly induced by heating, and exceeding a specific switching temperature, T switch. If polymers cannot be warmed up by heat transfer using a hot liquid or gaseous medium, noncontact triggering will be required. In this article, the magnetically induced shape-memory effect of composites from magnetic nanoparticles and thermoplastic shapememory polymers is introduced. A polyetherurethane (TFX) and a biodegradable multiblock copolymer (PDC) with poly(p-dioxanone) as hard segment and poly( -caprolactone) as soft segment were investigated as matrix component. Nanoparticles consisting of an iron(III)oxide core in a silica matrix could be processed into both polymers. A homogeneous particle distribution in TFX could be shown. Compounds have suitable elastic and thermal properties for the shape-memory functionalization. Temporary shapes of TFX compounds were obtained by elongating at increased temperature and subsequent cooling under constant stress. Cold-drawing of PDC compounds at 25°C resulted in temporary fixation of the mechanical deformation by 50 -60%. The shape-memory effect of both composite systems could be induced by inductive heating in an alternating magnetic field (f ‫؍‬ 258 kHz; H ‫؍‬ 30 kA⅐m ؊1 ). The maximum temperatures achievable by inductive heating in a specific magnetic field depend on sample geometry and nanoparticle content. Shape recovery rates of composites resulting from magnetic triggering are comparable to those obtained by increasing the environmental temperature.nanocomposite ͉ shape-memory polymer ͉ stimuli-sensitive polymer S hape-memory polymers are able to recover their predefined original shape when exposed to an external stimulus. A prerequisite for the shape-memory effect is a preceding functionalization of the material to temporarily fix a mechanical deformation. Most shape-memory polymers are thermosensitive materials. The shape is actuated by exceeding a specific switching temperature, T switch (1). Thermoplastic shape-memory polymers have at least two separated phases, where the domains with the highest thermal transition (T perm ) stabilize the permanent shape by acting as physical netpoints. A second phase having another thermal transition T trans serves as switch. At temperatures above T trans the chain segments forming this phase are flexible and the material is highly elastic, whereas the flexibility of the chains below T trans is limited and enables the fixation of the temporary shape. T trans can either be a glass transition (T g ) or a melting temperature (T m ). Whereas T trans is the thermal transition of the switching segment phase, typically determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), T switch is result of a thermomechanical test used to quantify the shape-memory effect.An important class of thermoplastic shape-memory polymers are polyurethanes. They often contain a hard segment from methylene bis(4-phenylisocyanate) (MDI) and 1,4-butanediol. Depending on the switching segment, T trans can be either a melting...

The activation of the shape-memory effect of nanocomposites (NC) by alternating magnetic fields requires exceeding the switching temperature T s. Different factors, which are influencing this process, have been investigated exemplarily. The intrinsic properties of magnetic nanoparticles (MNP), their content and distribution in the polymer matrix as well as the heat transport conditions, which are essentially determined by the surface to volume ratio (S/V) of the specimens and the surroundings, are influencing the accomplishable temperature in an alternating magnetic field. We used MNP having an iron(II,III)oxide core embedded in amorphous silica, which were homogeneously distributed in a polymer matrix by extrusion molding. The thermoplastic polymer matrix consists either of an aliphatic polyetherurethane (TFX) for demonstration of the basic correlations between magnetic field and the sample, or of a biodegradable multiblock copolymer (PDC), which is prepared from hard segment forming poly(p-dioxanone)diol (PPDO), switching segment forming poly(εcaprolactone)diol (PCL) and 2,2(4),4-trimethylhexanediisocyanate (TMDI) as junction unit. We could demonstrate that a nanoparticle content up to 10 wt-% do not decisively change the shape-memory properties or mechanical properties of PDC based materials.

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Higher energy efficiency, more compact design, and longer lifetime of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) have resulted in increasing their market share in the lighting industry, especially in the industries of consumer electronics, automotive, and general lighting. Due to their robustness and reliability, LEDs have replaced conventional light sources, such as fluorescent lamps. Many studies are examining the reliability of LEDs as such or investigating their long-term behavior on standard printed circuit boards (PCB). However, the thermal performance of LEDs mounted on nonconventional substrates is still not explored enough. An interesting example for this is the molded interconnect devices (MID), which are well known for the great design freedom and the great potential for functional integration. These characteristics not only underline the main abilities of the MID technology, but also present some challenges concerning thermal management. The long-term behavior of LEDs on MID is still quite untapped and this prevents this technology from consolidating its existence. In this context, this work highlights a developed test setup aimed at investigating LEDs, mounted on molded interconnect devices, under combined stress conditions. The results of the reliability study, as well as the resulting lifetime model, are also illustrated and discussed.