METHOD FOR IMPARTING SHAPE MEMORY PROPERTIES TO RUBBER ELASTOMER AND SHAPE MEMORY RUBBER ELASTOMER MADE THEREWITH

摘要

PURPOSE:To prepare a shape memory rubber elastomer which keeps a shape deformed above a specified temp. when cooled and returns to the shape before the deformation when heated by incorporating a specific dispersant into a diene rubber elastomer of which double bonds in the main chain have been hydrogenated. CONSTITUTION:A compd. having a condensed arom. ring (e.g. dibenzofuran or naphthol), as a dispersant, is added to a diene rubber elastomer (e.g. acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber or isoprene rubber) of which double bonds in the main chain have been hydrogenated, thus giving a shape memory rubber elastomer which stably shows nonrubber properties below a specified low temp. and rubberlike properties above a specified high temp. When the shape memory rubber elastomer deformed in the rubberlike state is cooled to and kept at the specified low temp., the deformed shape is kept, and when the deformed rubber elastomer is heated to the specified high temp., it returns to the rubberlike state and to the shape before the deformation.