A Simulation Method to Analyze Chemo-Mechanical Behavior of Swelling-Induced Shape-Memory Polymer in Response to Solvent

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. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 123: 1137-1146, 2012