Shape memory behaviors of crosslinked copolymers containing stearyl acrylate

Shape memory polymers were prepared by copolymerizing stearyl acrylate and methyl acrylate. The principle of this shape memory effect is based on reversible order-disorder transition of crystalline aggregates of stearyl moieties. A specific feature of this type of shape memory copolymer is that the transition temperature at which the polymer abruptly becomes soft and deforms can be controlled by changing the monomer composition, which enables one to adjust the shape memory effect at a desired temperature. Mechanism and process of the shape memory behaviors were discussed.