Shape-memory polymer

Shape memory polymers ( FGP ) are plastics that a shape memory effect (English shape-memory effect) - that can "remember" its previous external shape despite a temporary strong deformation apparently - have similar shape memory alloys. The first shape memory polymer consisted of two components. The first was an elastic polymer, a kind of " spring element " and the second a curable wax, which can lock the " spring member " in any desired form. If you heat the shape memory polymer, so the wax is soft and can no longer counteract the force of the spring element. The shape memory polymer returns to its original shape. This behavior is called analogous to the terminology of shape memory alloys one-way memory effect. An example is memory foam.

Stimuli

The stimulus used in the above example, for triggering the shape memory effect is temperature. A list of stimuli that can induce a provision:

Use

Shape memory polymers are the subject of intensive research. Your commercial use is likely to occur first in medical technology, where metallic shape memory materials also already playing a role, but can also show biological side effects. There are already companies that offer such materials.