Two-way shape memory effect in polymer laminates

Novel polymer laminate exhibiting two-way shape memory effect has been prepared by layer technique with the shape memory polymer and elastic polymer. In this paper, we demonstrate the two-way shape memory behavior, i.e., bending on heating and reverse bending on cooling; describe the preparation procedure; and investigate its two-way shape memory mechanism. Finally. it suggests that the mechanism can be ascribed to the release of elastic strain of shape memory polymer layer upon heating, and the elastic strain recovery induced by the bending force of substrate layer upon cooling. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.