The present invention is directed to a method of preparing an actuator capable of being repeatedly and reversibly shifted between two freestanding shapes (A, B) under stress-free conditions upon varying a temperature between a temperature T.sub.low and a temperature T.sub.sep. The method comprising the steps: (a) providing an actuator consisting of or comprising a covalently or physically cross-linked polymer network, the polymer comprising a first phase having a thermodynamic phase transition extending in a temperature range from T.sub.trans,onset to T.sub.trans,offset, and an elastic phase having a glass transition temperature T.sub.g, with T.sub.g<T.sub.trans,onset, the polymer having an initial shape; (b) deforming the polymer to a deformation shape at a temperature T.sub.prog by applying a stress, where the deformation is adapted to align chain segments of the polymer; (c) setting the polymer to a temperature T.sub.low with T.sub.lowT.sub.trans,onset under maintaining the stress as to provide a solidified state of the polymer domains associated with the first phase; (d) heating the polymer to a predetermined separation temperature T.sub.sep, with T.sub.trans,onset<T.sub.sep<T.sub.trans,offset, under stress-free conditions as to melt first polymeric domains (AD) of the first phase having a transition temperature in the range between T.sub.trans,onset and T.sub.sep and to maintain second domains (SD) of the first phase having a transition temperature in the range between T.sub.sep and T.sub.trans,offset in the solidified state, thus implementing shape A, where shape A geometrically lies between the initial shape provided in step (a) and the deformation shape applied in step (b) and shape B is the shape at T.sub.low and lies geometrically between shape A and the shape of deformation of step (b).

The present invention is directed to a method of preparing an actuator capable of being repeatedly and reversibly shifted between two freestanding shapes (A, B) under stress-free conditions upon varying a temperature between a temperature T.sub.low and a temperature T.sub.sep. The method comprising the steps: (a) providing an actuator consisting of or comprising a covalently or physically cross-linked polymer network, the polymer comprising a first phase having a thermodynamic phase transition extending in a temperature range from T.sub.trans,onset to T.sub.trans,offset, and an elastic phase having a glass transition temperature T.sub.g, with T.sub.g<T.sub.trans,onset, the polymer having an initial shape; (b) deforming the polymer to a deformation shape at a temperature T.sub.prog by applying a stress, where the deformation is adapted to align chain segments of the polymer; (c) setting the polymer to a temperature T.sub.low with T.sub.lowT.sub.trans,onset under maintaining the stress as to provide a solidified state of the polymer domains associated with the first phase; (d) heating the polymer to a predetermined separation temperature T.sub.sep, with T.sub.trans,onset<T.sub.sep<T.sub.trans,offset, under stress-free conditions as to melt first polymeric domains (AD) of the first phase having a transition temperature in the range between T.sub.trans,onset and T.sub.sep and to maintain second domains (SD) of the first phase having a transition temperature in the range between T.sub.sep and T.sub.trans,offset in the solidified state, thus implementing shape A, where shape A geometrically lies between the initial shape provided in step (a) and the deformation shape applied in step (b) and shape B is the shape at T.sub.low and lies geometrically between shape A and the shape of deformation of step (b).

An in situ method to deploy and/or plasticize a shape-memory material in order to change the material's physical dimensions and/or mechanical properties, includes a method for deploying a shape memory polymer having a deformed or compressed shape in an environment at a first temperature, the shape memory polymer having a first glass transition temperature which is greater than the first temperature. The method also includes contacting the shape memory polymer with an activation fluid in an amount effective to decrease the glass transition temperature of the shape memory polymer from the first glass transition temperature to a second glass transition temperature which is less than or equal to the first temperature, where the activation fluid comprises a sugar present in an amount effective to raise a flash point of the activation fluid.

An in situ method to deploy and/or plasticize a shape-memory material in order to change the material's physical dimensions and/or mechanical properties, includes a method for deploying a shape memory polymer having a deformed or compressed shape in an environment at a first temperature, the shape memory polymer having a first glass transition temperature which is greater than the first temperature. The method also includes contacting the shape memory polymer with an activation fluid in an amount effective to decrease the glass transition temperature of the shape memory polymer from the first glass transition temperature to a second glass transition temperature which is less than or equal to the first temperature, where the activation fluid comprises a sugar present in an amount effective to raise a flash point of the activation fluid.

Fit and finish methods using shape memory polymers (SMP) are disclosed herein. In an example of the fit and finish method, a first part and a second part are positioned adjacent to one another such that a shape memory polymer in a temporary shape is adjacent to a gap between the first part and the second part. The SMP is heated to a switching temperature of the SMP, which causes the SMP to initiate conversion to a permanent shape so that the SMP extends into the gap to close the gap between the first part and the second part.

Fit and finish methods using shape memory polymers (SMP) are disclosed herein. In an example of the fit and finish method, a first part and a second part are positioned adjacent to one another such that a shape memory polymer in a temporary shape is adjacent to a gap between the first part and the second part. The SMP is heated to a switching temperature of the SMP, which causes the SMP to initiate conversion to a permanent shape so that the SMP extends into the gap to close the gap between the first part and the second part.

Expandable substrates, which are referred to as blanks, are created by compressing thermobonded nonwovens after heating the binder material above its melting temperature, and then cooling the compressed nonwovens so that the binder material hardens and holds the fibers of the nonwoven together in a compressed configuration with stored kinetic energy. A mold for the component to be manufactured can be partially filled with a number of boards (or blanks) in a stacked, vertically, adjacent or even random orientation. Upon application of heat to the boards or blanks or parts in the mold, the binder material is melted so as to allow the nonwoven material to expand in one or more directions, and thereby fill all or part of the mold. Upon cooling, the binder material again hardens, and the molded component is retrieved from the mold.

Expandable substrates, which are referred to as blanks, are created by compressing thermobonded nonwovens after heating the binder material above its melting temperature, and then cooling the compressed nonwovens so that the binder material hardens and holds the fibers of the nonwoven together in a compressed configuration with stored kinetic energy. A mold for the component to be manufactured can be partially filled with a number of boards (or blanks) in a stacked, vertically, adjacent or even random orientation. Upon application of heat to the boards or blanks or parts in the mold, the binder material is melted so as to allow the nonwoven material to expand in one or more directions, and thereby fill all or part of the mold. Upon cooling, the binder material again hardens, and the molded component is retrieved from the mold.