Shape-reprogrammable polymers: encoding, erasing, and re-encoding

Ryan R Kohlmeyer; Philip R Buskohl; James R Deneault; Michael F Durstock; Richard A Vaia; Jian Chen

doi:10.1002/adma.201402901

Shape-reprogrammable polymers: encoding, erasing, and re-encoding

Adv Mater. 2014 Dec 23;26(48):8114-9. doi: 10.1002/adma.201402901. Epub 2014 Oct 17.

Authors

Ryan R Kohlmeyer¹, Philip R Buskohl, James R Deneault, Michael F Durstock, Richard A Vaia, Jian Chen

Affiliation

¹ National Research Council, Washington, D.C., 20001, USA; Soft Materials Branch, Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, 45433, USA; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53211, USA.

PMID: 25323148
DOI: 10.1002/adma.201402901

Abstract

Shape-reprogramming in a polymer is demonstrated, where prescribed 3D geometric information can be encoded, decoded, erased, and re-encoded. In essence, the shape-reprogrammable polymer (SRP) acts as computer hardware that can be reformatted and reprogrammed repeatedly. Such SRPs have the potential to be repurposed directly without going through material disposal and recycling.

Keywords: Nafion; programmable shape; reprogrammable; shape encoding; shape-memory polymers.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Fluorocarbon Polymers / chemistry
Polymers / chemistry*
Sodium Hydroxide / chemistry
Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission
Temperature

Substances

Fluorocarbon Polymers
Polymers
perfluorosulfonic acid
Sodium Hydroxide