Review of Thermoresponsive Electroactive and Magnetoactive Shape Memory Polymer Nanocomposites

Abstract

Electroactive and magnetoactive shape memory polymer nanocomposites (SMCs) are multistimuli-responsive smart materials that are of great interest in many research and industrial fields. In addition to thermoresponsive shape memory polymers, SMCs include nanofillers with suitable electric and/or magnetic properties that allow for alternative and remote methods of shape memory activation. This review discusses the state of the art on these electro- and magnetoactive SMCs and summarizes recently published investigations, together with relevant applications in several fields. Special attention is paid to the shape memory characteristics (shape fixity and shape recovery or recovery force) of these materials, as well as to the magnitude of the electric and magnetic fields required to trigger the shape memory characteristics.

Shape-memory microfluidic chips for fluid and droplet manipulation

“…Depending on the stimulus mechanism, SMPs can be classified into various types, including temperature-responsive, [4][5][6] electrically responsive, 7,8 light-responsive, [9][10][11] and magnetically responsive. 12,13 Each stimulus mechanism has its own characteristics: direct heating is simple but slow in response; electrical and magnetic stimuli shorten the response time of SMPs; light-responsive SMPs enable precise and remote control of shape changes. Researchers can choose the appropriate stimulus mechanism according to the specific application environment.…”

Impact of CoFe2O4 Magnetic Nanoparticles on the Physical and Mechanical Properties and Shape Memory Effect of Polylactide

“…For example, a compressed medical device can be introduced into a living system through a small incision, which later transforms into its intended shape under the influence of a suitable trigger. Thermally activated polymers are the most common SMPs [13]. In addition to direct heating, indirect heating methods have also been developed due to the concerns associated with the overheating of surrounding tissues.…”

Shape-Memory Polymers Based on Carbon Nanotube Composites

“…Adding fillers to a polymer matrix allows the exploration of mechanisms of actuation otherwise not possible. Among popular reinforcements for SMP, carbon-based fillers, such as carbon fibers (CFs), carbon black (CB), carbon nanotubes (CNT), and graphene (Gr), are popular for electrically responsive SMP, Fe 3 O 4 and Ni for magnetically responsive SMP, nanocellulose for chemically activated SMP, and Au, CNT, or graphene oxide (rGO) for light-responsive SMP [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ].…”