Abstract
We present a constitutive model for the effect of solvent absorption on the thermomechanical properties and shape-memory behavior of amorphous polymers. The absorption of low concentrations of solvent depresses the glass transition temperature by increasing the molecular mobility of the polymer chains. In a shape-memory application, this can lead to premature shape recovery and significant alterations to the time-dependence and temperature-dependence of shape recovery. We implemented the constitutive model for finite element analysis and developed a computational model that considered the time-dependent effect of diffusion to study the solvent-induced shape-memory behavior of a meth(acrylate) copolymer network. The model was validated by comparing to isothermal shape recovery experiments of specimens in air and water at different temperatures.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 9455-9464 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Soft Matter |
| Volume | 9 |
| Issue number | 39 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Oct 21 2013 |
| Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Chemistry
- Condensed Matter Physics