Shape memory behaviour of radiation-crosslinked PCL/PMVS blends

The performance and radiation crosslinking of polycaprolactone (PCL) and polymethylvinylsiloxane (PMVS) blends has been investigated. Radiation crosslinking of PCL/PMVS blends followed the Charlesby–Pinner equation, and PMVS promoted the radiation crosslinking of the blends. As the concentration of PMVS increased, the gelation dose and the ratio of degradation to crosslinking (p0/q0p0/q0) decreased and the efficiency of radiation crosslinking increased. The elastic modulus below the melting point of PCL of radiation-crosslinked PCL/PMVS blends decreased with the increase of PMVS, and increased above the melting point. The crosslinked PCL/PMVS blends exhibited excellent shape memory effects, and the ratios of deformation to recovery were more than 95%.