Studies on Thermally Stimulated Shape Memory Effect of Polyurethane/Polycaprolactone Blends

In this study blends of polyurethane based on poly(ε-caprolactone) diol (PU-PCL diol) and polycaprolactone (PCL) were prepared with different ratio of PU/PCL and their shape memory behaviors were examined. The investigation on thermal properties was performed using DSC. All blends except blend(1) showed shape memory effect with Ttrans around melting temperature of PCL crystals in the blends. The crystallization and melting behavior of the PCL in blends are strongly influenced by factor of composition. On the other hand the crystallization and melting temperature were decreased with increase of PU content in the blends (the same trend for Ttrans).Thermomechanical cycle of blend(2) showed that the lowest recovery temperature (LRT) of deformed shape was around 42 °C This result indicated that the blend(2) has potential for biomedical applications.

کلیدواژه ها:

Shape memory polymers ، biomedical applications ، crystallinity