Amorphous, Elastic AB Copolymer Networks from Acrylates and Poly[( L ‐lactide)‐ran‐glycolide]dimethacrylates

Three series of amorphous AB copolymer networks with shape-memory capabilities were obtained from poly[(L-lactide)-ran-glycolide]dimethacrylate (DM) as crosslinker and ethylacrylate-(AEt), butylacrylate-(ABu), or hexyl acrylate (AHe) as comonomers. The switching temperature Tsw of the shape-memory effect could be adjusted between 9 °C to 45 °C. Strain fixity rates and strain recovery rates above 96 % could be reached. Compared to the homonetwork from DM, the incorporation of polyacrylate segments into the network led to a significant improvement of mechanical properties. Reaching higher elasticity and the possibility to adjust Tsw to a temperature between room temperature and body temperature are considered to be substantial steps to improve the applicability of these polymer networks.