Shape memory polymers
US6720402B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 8, 2002 |
| Grant date | Apr 13, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 8, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S977/754
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Shape memory polymer compositions, articles of manufacture thereof, and methods of preparation and use thereof are described. The shape memory polymer compositions can hold more than one shape in memory. Suitable compositions include at least one hard segment and at least one soft segment. At least one of the hard or soft segments can contain a crosslinkable group, and the segments can be linked by formation of an interpenetrating network or a semi-interpenetrating network, or by physical interactions of the blocks. Objects can be formed into a given shape at a temperature above the Ttrans of the hard segment, and cooled to a temperature below to Ttrans of the soft segment. If the object is subsequently formed into a second shape, the object can return to its original shape by heating the object above the Ttrans of the soft segment and below the Ttrans of the hard segment.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.