A simulation method to analyze chemo-mechanical behavior of swelling-induced shape-memory polymer in response to solvent

摘要

A network of thermally responsive shape-memory polymers (SMPs) could imbibe a quantity of solvent molecules to swell, and subsequently induces a chemical potential change in polymer. When an equilibrium is reached between the mechanical load and the chemical potential of polymer network and solvent, the SMP polymer usually swells with a field of inhomogeneous and anisotropic deformation, which is considered to be equivalent to a hyperelastic field. We implement this theory in the free-energy function equation, and analyze examples of swelling-induced deformation and shape recovery behavior. This work may provide a powerful tool to study complex swelling-induced shape-memory behavior of SMPs in response to the immersing solvents.