High-performance fibrous artificial muscle based on reversible shape memory UHMWPE

Shape memory polymer fibers (SMPFs) are an important branch of intelligent fibers. Due to their ability to deform under external stimuli, shape memory polymer fibers have been used in intelligent textiles, polymer fillers and medical fields, including surgical sutures, thrombectomy devices, compression stockings, etc. There have been many studies on SMPFs, but almost all reported SMPFs only exhibit a one-way shape memory effect (SME). The deformation process of the one-way SMPFs is irreversible, and the transition from temporary shape to permanent shape cannot be replicated by simply reversing the stimulus. To tackle this problem. We selected ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) as the polymer matrix to prepare external stress-free two-way SMPFs. UHMWPE powders are gelspun and then hot drawn to yield raw UHMWPE fibers. After programming, the UHMWPE fibers possess high tensile strength (338.72 MPa) and Young's modulus (2287.34 MPa), as well as one-way SME, quasi two-way SME and external stress-free reversible two-way SME. The reversible strain of the prepared reversible shape memory UHMWPE fibers is 27.42%. Artificial muscles and actuators can be made from the programmed UHMWPE fibers. The programmed UHMWPE fibers can lift more than 250 times their own weight with similar to 10% reversible strain. The programmed UHMWPE fibers are appropriate for industrial mass production since the preparation and programming processes are simple. (C) 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V.

Automated summary

Shape memory polymer fibers (SMPFs) are a significant branch of intelligent fibers. They have been widely used in intelligent textiles, polymer fillers, and medical fields. However, most reported SMPFs only exhibit a one-way shape memory effect, which cannot be reversed by simply reversing the stimulus. In this study, researchers successfully prepared two-way SMPFs using ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) as the polymer matrix, which have high tensile strength, reversible strain, and are suitable for industrial mass production.