title: Thermoreversibly crosslinked poly(ε-caprolactone) as recyclable shape-memory polymer network.
abstract: A new concept to build shape memory polymers (SMP) combining outstanding fixity and recovery ratios (both above 99% after only one training cycle) typical of chemically crosslinked SMPs with reprocessability restricted to physically crosslinked SMPs is demonstrated by covalently bonding, through thermoreversible Diels-Alder (DA) adducts, star-shaped poly(ε-caprolactones) (PCL) end-functionalized by furan and maleimide moieties. A PCL network is easily prepared by melt-blending complementary end-functional star polymers in retro DA regime, then by curing at lower temperature to favour the DA cycloaddition. Such covalent network can be reprocessed when heated again at the retro DA temperature. The resulting SMP shows still excellent shape memory properties attesting for its good recyclability.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Education and Research on Macromolecules (CERM), University of Liege (ULg), Building B6a, 4000 Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Defize
authors.forename: Raphaël
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Riva
authors.forename: Jean-Marie
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Raquez
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dubois
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jérôme
authors.forename: Michaël
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alexandre
mesh_terms: D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000737:chemistry; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry*; D011108:Polymers / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; C016240:polycaprolactone