Shape Memory Effect in Polymeric Materials: Mechanisms and Optimization

The shape memory effect (SME) has attracted more and more attention in recent years. A few shape memory related new phenomena have also been identified. This paper aims to reveal the basic working mechanisms for the SME in polymeric materials, and discuss the key issues in optimization of the shape memory performance, temperature memory effect and multiple-SME. It is concluded that most shape memory phenomena are intrinsic features of polymeric materials, and based on these basic working mechanisms, we can enable the SME in materials, design a new shape memory material with the required shape memory function, and optimize the shape memory performance.