The invention provides novel compounds and polymers with pendant aspirin, and degradable and biocompatible compositions, medical devices and implants, and methods of making and use thereof.

The present application provides polymer materials having the desired properties for implantation into a human or animal body, in particular, biocompatibility, biodegradability, radiopacity and mechanical properties. Methods of making such polymer materials, compositions or devices comprising such polymer materials, and uses of such polymer materials, compositions and devices are also disclosed.

Disclosed are methods of using reaction injection molding to mold stimuli-responsive thermosets such as urethane linked poly(caprolactone) networks from polyols and polyisocyanates, as well as polymers prepared by such methods.

The invention is directed to a method for the preparation of a liquid crystal block copolymer, comprising melt polycondensation of a melt comprising at least two non-latent aromatic monomers and a latent aromatic monomer.

The present invention provides a shape memory polyurethane composition and laminate using the same. The shape memory polyurethane composition at least comprises a polyurethane synthesized by polymerization of at least a polyol having at least two functional groups, a diisocyanate having at least two functional groups and a chain extender having at least two functional groups wherein the molar ratio of the diisocyanate:polyol:chain extender is 23:1:12, the NCO/OH molar ratio is 0.951.1, the weight average molecular weight is 50,000300,000, the polyurethane has a first phase transition temperature being in the range of 40 C.60 C. and the storage elastic modulus at the temperature less than or equal to the first phase transition temperature is more than or equal to 10.sup.9 Pa.

Liquid crystalline network compositions comprising azo-containing aromatic epoxy units cross-linked with alkylene diacid units having alkylene segments containing at least one methylene unit, wherein the azo-containing aromatic epoxy units and alkylene diacid units are connected by ester linkages resulting from ring-opening esterification between the epoxy units and alkylene diacids, and wherein the azo-containing aromatic epoxy units and alkylene diacid units are in a molar ratio that results in the liquid crystalline network composition exhibiting a glass transition temperature (T.sub.g) of at least 25 C. Methods for producing these compositions and their use in light- or thermal-activated physical deformation, shape memory applications, and self-healing, as well as their ability to be recycled and used in additive manufacturing processes are also described.

Polyester polyols are generally disclosed, including methods of making and using them. In some embodiments, the polyester polyols are incorporated into a block copolymer, such as a polyurethane block copolymer. In some embodiments, the polyurethane block copolymers can be used as compatibilizing agents, which can be used, for example, in polymer blends, polymer alloys, solutions, emulsions, as well as in extruded and injection molded articles. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the polyurethane block copolymer is derived from a renewable source.

Methods and apparatus to grasp an object with an unmanned aerial vehicle are described herein. An example unmanned aerial vehicle includes a gripper having a claw to grasp onto an object and an active material disposed on the claw. The example unmanned aerial vehicle further includes a material activator to: (1) apply an activation signal to the active material to soften the active material while the claw grasps the object with the active material, and (2) allow the active material to harden in a shape substantially matching a surface of the object.

A shape-memory self-healing polymeric network (SMSHP) is useful as a molded part, a coating, or as a matrix for a composite that can be repaired by heating to a controlled temperature. The SMSHP has thermally reversible repeating units where a thermally reversible adduct is situated between two common linking units formed during a polymerization process between thermally reversible monomers and cross-linking monomers. Optionally, other repeating units can be present from other monomers. Shape-memory results when the SMSHP is warmed to a temperature in excess of its glass transition temperature and self-healing then proceeds when a higher temperature is achieved where thermally reversible adducts dissociates to complementary groups that subsequently reform the adduct without distortion of the memorized shape. The thermally reversible adducts can be Diels-Alder (DA) adducts in a polyurethane, poly urea, or amine epoxy SMSHP network.

The present invention relates to a method for producing a molded body (MB) comprising the production of a thermoplastic polyurethane, the production of a molded body (MB*) from the thermoplastic polyurethane, heating the molded body (MB*) to a temperature below the temperature at which there is permanent deformability of the molded body (MB*), and above the switching temperature of the thermoplastic polyurethanes, elongating the heated molded body (MB*) with obtention of a molded body (MB), and cooling the molded body (MB) to a temperature below the switching temperature of the thermoplastic polyurethane, and the molded body obtained or obtainable by such a method. The present invention further relates to a thermoplastic polyurethane with shape memory and the use of a thermoplastic polyurethane for producing a molded body with shape memory effect in a temperature range from 0 C. to 130 C.