A simulation method to analyze chemo‐mechanical behavior of swelling‐induced shape‐memory polymer in response to solvent

A network of thermally responsive shape‐memory polymers (SMPs) could imbibe a quantity of solvent molecules to swell, and subsequently induces a chemical potential change in polymer. When an equilibrium is reached between the mechanical load and the chemical potential of polymer network and solvent, the SMP polymer usually swells with a field of inhomogeneous and anisotropic deformation, which is considered to be equivalent to a hyperelastic field. We implement this theory in the free‐energy function equation, and analyze examples of swelling‐induced deformation and shape recovery behavior. This work may provide a powerful tool to study complex swelling‐induced shape‐memory behavior of SMPs in response to the immersing solvents.