Shape memory polyurethane containing mesogenic moiety

The mechanical and thermal properties, in particular the shape memory effect, of TPUs synthesized from diol-terminated poly(caprolactone) (PCL diol), 4,4'-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI), and mesogenic chain extenders, 4,4'-bis-(2-hydroxyethoxy)biphenyl (BEBP) or 4,4'-bis-(6-hydroxyhexoxy)biphenyl (BHBP) were examined and compared with results for PCL diol/MDI/1,4-butanediol (BD) based TPUs in a previous study. Some results related to the rigid structure of BEBP or BHBP were observed in the thermomechanical properties. Shape fixity was related to the crystallization of the PCL phase. (C) 2000 Kluwer Academic Publishers.