Shape memory liquid crystalline polymers: Stimuli‐responsiveness, advanced technologies, and key applications

Abstract

Liquid crystalline polymers (LCPs) represent a distinct class of materials that have garnered significant interest for their utilisation in diverse industrial and engineering applications. A prominent attribute of LCPs is their stimuli‐responsiveness. These materials can undergo deformation and subsequently recover their original shapes when subjected to external stimuli such as heat, light, and electromagnetic fields. The molecular structure of LCPs consists of mesogens and flexible tails, mirroring the fundamental molecular mechanism found in shape memory polymers. This characteristic positions LCPs as promising materials for shape memory applications. This article provides a comprehensive review of LCPs, focusing on their various forms of stimuli‐responsiveness. In addition, it delves into the application of additive manufacturing and machine learning technologies in the context of shape memory LCPs. Finally, the article concludes by exploring the critical applications of LCPs as shape memory materials.