title: Optically transparent high temperature shape memory polymers.
abstract: Optically transparent shape memory polymers (SMPs) have potential in advanced optoelectronic and other common shape memory applications, and here optically transparent shape memory polyimide is reported for the first time. The polyimide possesses a glass transition temperature (Tg) of 171 °C, higher than the Tg of other transparent SMPs reported, and the influence of molecular structure on Tg is discussed. The 120 μm thick polyimide film exhibits transmittance higher than 81% in 450-800 nm, and the possible mechanism of its high transparency is analyzed, which will benefit further research on other transparent high temperature SMPs. The transparent polyimide showed excellent thermomechanical properties and shape memory performances, and retained high optical transparency after many shape memory cycles.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Harbin Institute of Technology, No. 92 West Dazhi Street, Harbin 150001, People's Republic of China and Centre for Composite Materials and Structures, Harbin Institute of Technology, No. 2 Yikuang Street, Harbin 150080, People's Republic of China. lengjs@hit.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Xinli
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Harbin Institute of Technology, No. 92 West Dazhi Street, Harbin 150001, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xueying
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Harbin Institute of Technology, No. 92 West Dazhi Street, Harbin 150001, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Deyan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Harbin Institute of Technology, No. 92 West Dazhi Street, Harbin 150001, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Wenbo
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Astronautical Science and Mechanics, Harbin Institute of Technology, No. 92 West Dazhi Street, Harbin 150001, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yanju
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Centre for Composite Materials and Structures, Harbin Institute of Technology, No. 2 Yikuang Street, Harbin 150080, People's Republic of China. lengjs@hit.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Jinsong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Leng