Altering the Trigger-Behavior of Programmed Shape Memory Natural Rubber (SMNR) by Solvent Vapor

Lightly cross-linked natural rubber was found to have a tunable trigger-temperature through programming procedure. Solvent vapor has a further impact on the trigger-behavior of programmed SMNR. For exploring this we used the 1(st) derivative of the temperature dependent thickness increase to get insights in the trigger-behavior. Additionally subsequently applied solvent vapor treatment allows reversibly changing T-Trig as well as the maximum trigger-rate (max) and thus the whole trigger-process. The variation of solvent vapors or subsequently applied solvent combinations results in a novel way to alter the trigger-behavior after programming.