Thermoresponsive Shape Memory Fibers for Compression Garments

Their highly deformable properties make shape memory polymers (SMP) a promising component for the development of new compression garments. The shape memory effect (SME) can be observed when two polymers are combined. In here, polycaprolactone (PCL) and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) were melt spun in different arrangement types (blend, core-sheath, and island-in-sea), whereas the best SME was observed for the blend type. In order to trigger the SME, this yarn was stimulated at a temperature of 50 °C. It showed a strain fixation of 62%, a strain recovery of 99%, and a recovery stress of 2.7 MPa.

Mechanics of nickel–titanium shape memory alloys undergoing partially constrained recovery for self-healing materials

Engineered self-healing materials seek to create an innate ability for materials to restore mechanical strength after incurring damage, much like biological organisms. This technology will enable the design of structures that can withstand their everyday use without damage but also recover from damage due to an overload incident. One of the primary mechanisms for self-healing is the incorporation of shape memory fibers in a composite type structure. Upon activation, these shape memory fibers can restore geometric changes caused by damage and close fractures. To date, shape memory–based self-healing, without bonding agents, has been limited to geometric restoration without creating a capability to withstand externally applied tensile loads due to the way the shape memory material has been integrated into the composite. Some form of bonding has been necessary for self-healing materials to resist an externally applied load after healing. This article presents results of new study into using a form of constrained recovery of nickel–titanium shape memory alloys in self-healing materials to create residual compressive loads across fractures in the low temperature martensitic state. Analysis is presented relating internal loads in self-healing materials, potentially generated by shape memory alloys, to the capability to resist externally applied loads. Supporting properties were experimentally characterized in nickel–titanium shape memory alloy wires. Finally, self-healing samples were synthesized and tested demonstrating the ability to resist externally applies loads without bonding. This study provides a new useful characterization of nickel–titanium applicable to self-healing structures and opens the door to new forms of healing like incorporation of pressure-based bonding.

Mechanics of NiTi Reinforced Self-Healing Materials Producing Crack Closing Loads

Self-healing material structures with the inherent capability to mend damage will lead to a paradigm shift in design as fracture may no longer constitute a failure. Generally, there are two techniques of self-healing that operate at different scales, require different approaches and often are dealt with separately; geometric restoration and crack filling/bonding. Geometric restoration uses shape memory materials that can mechanically close fractures after they occur. Crack filling and bonding fills and chemically bonds fractured parts in place. Materials capable of recovering from complete fractures, that have propagated across the entire component, have typically taken a sparse fiber composite form with a structural matrix encapsulating shape memory fibers. This form of self-healing material has demonstrated the ability recover original bulk geometry. However, lacking bonding, the healed structures have not had the ability to resist subsequent externally applied loads without re-opening the crack. A new approach of pre-straining the shape memory fibers before curing them in a matrix in the pre-strained state is presented in this paper with basic theory and experimental results. Pre-straining the shape memory fibers before casting them in the matrix causes them to undergo constrained recovery upon activation. Thus, the samples create closing loads across the crack which are capable of withstanding external loads without re-opening.