Unique Recovery Behavior in Amorphous Shape‐Memory Polymer Networks

Shape‐memory polymers (SMPs) have emerged as a multi‐functional materials platform and have been proposed for a variety of applications ranging from simple actuators to biomedical devices. The shape‐memory cycle is demonstrated through a three‐step process of programming, storage, and recovery. In this paper, recent findings that associate each step of the shape‐memory cycle to unique recovery behavior are highlighted. The article focuses on the influence of deformation temperature, long‐term storage (physical aging), partially constrained recovery, and mechanically driven recovery with respect to shape‐memory behavior. magnified image