@article{RazzaqBehlHeucheletal.2019, author = {Razzaq, Muhammad Yasar and Behl, Marc and Heuchel, Matthias and Lendlein, Andreas}, title = {Matching magnetic heating and thermal actuation for sequential coupling in hybrid composites by design}, series = {Macromolecular rapid communications}, volume = {41}, journal = {Macromolecular rapid communications}, number = {1}, publisher = {Wiley-VCH}, address = {Weinheim}, issn = {1022-1336}, doi = {10.1002/marc.201900440}, pages = {7}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Sequentially coupling two material functions requires matching the output from the first with the input of the second function. Here, magnetic heating controls thermal actuation of a hybrid composite in a challenging system environment causing an elevated level of heat loss. The concept is a hierarchical design consisting of an inner actuator of nanocomposite material, which can be remotely heated by exposure to an alternating magnetic field (AMF) and outer layers of a porous composite system with a closed pore morphology. These porous layers act as heat insulators and as barriers to the surrounding water. By exposure to the AMF, a local bulk temperature of 71 degrees C enables the magnetic actuation of the device, while the temperature of the surrounding water is kept below 50 degrees C. Interestingly, the heat loss during magnetic heating leads to an increase of the water phase (small volume) temperature. The temperature increase is able to sequentially trigger an adjacent thermal actuator attached to the actuator composite. In this way it could be demonstrated how the AMF is able to initiate two kinds of independent actuations, which might be interesting for robotics operating in aqueous environments.}, language = {en} } @article{RazzaqBehlLendlein2019, author = {Razzaq, Muhammad Yasar and Behl, Marc and Lendlein, Andreas}, title = {Magneto-Mechanical Actuators with Reversible Stretching and Torsional Actuation Capabilities}, series = {MRS Advances}, volume = {4}, journal = {MRS Advances}, number = {19}, publisher = {Cambridge Univ. Press}, address = {New York}, issn = {2059-8521}, doi = {10.1557/adv.2019.123}, pages = {1057 -- 1065}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Composite actuators consisting of magnetic nanoparticles dispersed in a crystallizable multiphase polymer system can be remotely controlled by alternating magnetic fields (AMF). These actuators contain spatially segregated crystalline domains with chemically different compositions. Here, the crystalline domain associated to low melting transition range is responsible for actuation while the crystalline domain associated to the higher melting transition range determines the geometry of the shape change. This paper reports magnetomechanical actuators which are based on a single crystalline domain of oligo(omega-pentadecalactone) (OPDL) along with covalently integrated iron(III) oxide nanoparticles (ioNPs). Different geometrical modes of actuation such as a reversible change in length or twisting were implemented by a magneto-mechanical programming procedure. For an individual actuation mode, the degree of actuation could be tailored by variation of the magnetic field strengths. This material design can be easily extended to other composites containing other magnetic nanoparticles, e.g. with a high magnetic susceptibility.}, language = {en} } @article{BalkBehlLendlein2019, author = {Balk, Maria and Behl, Marc and Lendlein, Andreas}, title = {Hydrolytic Degradation of Actuators Based on Copolymer Networks From Oligo(epsilon-caprolactone) Dimethacrylate and n-Butyl Acrylate}, series = {MRS advances}, volume = {4}, journal = {MRS advances}, number = {21}, publisher = {Cambridge Univ. Press}, address = {New York}, issn = {2059-8521}, doi = {10.1557/adv.2019.202}, pages = {1193 -- 1205}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Shape-memory polymer actuators often contain crystallizable polyester segments. Here, the influence of accelerated hydrolytic degradation on the actuation performance in copolymer networks based on oligo(epsilon-caprolactone) dimethacrylate (OCL) and n-butyl acrylate is studied The semi-crystalline OCL was utilized as crosslinker with molecular weights of 2.3 and 15.2 kg.mol(-1) (ratio: 1:1 wt\%) and n-butyl acrylate (25 wt\% relative to OCL content) acted as softening agent creating the polymer main chain segments within the network architecture. The copolymer networks were programmed by 50\% elongation and were degraded by means of alkaline hydrolysis utilizing sodium hydroxide solution (pH = 13). Experiments were performed in the range of the broad melting range of the actuators at 40 degrees C. The degradation of test specimen was monitored by the sample mass, which was reduced by 25 wt\% within 105 d .45 degradation products, fragments of OCL with molecular masses ranging from 400 to 50.000 g.mol(-1) could be detected by NMR spectroscopy and GPC measurements. The cleavage of ester groups included in OCL segments resulted in a decrease of the melting temperature (T-m) related to the actuator domains (amorphous at the temperature of degradation) and simultaneously, the T-m associated to the skeleton domain was increased (semi-crystalline at the temperature of degradation). The alkaline hydrolysis decreased the polymer chain orientation of OCL domains until a random alignment of crystalline domains was obtained. This result was confirmed by cyclic thermomechanical actuation tests. The performance of directed movements decreased almost linearly as function of degradation time resulting in the loss of functionality when the orientation of polymer chains disappeared. Here, actuators were able to provide reversible movements until 91 d when the accelerated bulk degradation procedure using alkaline hydrolysis (pH = 13) was applied. Accordingly, a lifetime of more than one year can be guaranteed under physiological conditions (pH = 7.4) when, e.g., artificial muscles for biomimetic robots as potential application for these kind of shape-memory polymer actuators will be addressed.}, language = {en} } @article{MazurekBudzynskaRazzaqBehletal.2019, author = {Mazurek-Budzynska, Magdalena and Razzaq, Muhammad Yasar and Behl, Marc and Lendlein, Andreas}, title = {Shape-Memory Polymers}, series = {Functional Polymers}, journal = {Functional Polymers}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {Cham}, isbn = {978-3-319-95987-0}, issn = {2510-3458}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-319-95987-0_18}, pages = {605 -- 663}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Shape-memory polymers (SMPs) are stimuli-sensitive materials capable of changing their shape on demand. A shape-memory function is a result of the polymer architecture together with the application of a specific programming procedure. Various possible mechanisms to induce the shape-memory effect (SME) can be realized, which can be based on thermal transitions of switching domains or on reversible molecular switches (e.g., supramolecular interactions, reversible covalent bonds). Netpoints, which connect the switching domains and determine the permanent shape, can be either provided by covalent bonds or by physical intermolecular interactions, such as hydrogen bonds or crystallites. This chapter reviews different ways of implementing the phenomenon of programmable changes in the polymer shape, including the one-way shape-memory effect (1-W SME), triple-and multi-shape effects (TSE/ MSE), the temperature-memory effect (TME), and reversible shape-memory effects, which can be realized in constant stress conditions (rSME), or in stress-free conditions (reversible bidirectional shape-memory effect (rbSME)). Furthermore, magnetically actuated SMPs and shape-memory hydrogels (SMHs) are described to show the potential of the SMP technology in biomedical applications and multifunctional approaches.}, language = {en} } @article{FolikumahNeffeBehletal.2019, author = {Folikumah, Makafui Yao and Neffe, Axel T. and Behl, Marc and Lendlein, Andreas}, title = {Thiol Michael-Type reactions of optically active mercapto-acids in aqueous medium}, series = {MRS advances : a journal of the Materials Research Society}, volume = {4}, journal = {MRS advances : a journal of the Materials Research Society}, number = {46-47}, publisher = {Springer Nature Switzerland AG}, address = {Cham}, issn = {2059-8521}, doi = {10.1557/adv.2019.308}, pages = {2515 -- 2525}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Defined chemical reactions in a physiological environment are a prerequisite for the in situ synthesis of implant materials potentially serving as matrix for drug delivery systems, tissue fillers or surgical glues. 'Click' reactions like thiol Michael-type reactions have been successfully employed as bioorthogonal reaction. However, due to the individual stereo-electronic and physical properties of specific substrates, an exact understanding their chemical reactivity is required if they are to be used for in-situ biomaterial synthesis. The chiral (S)-2-mercapto-carboxylic acid analogues of L-phenylalanine (SH-Phe) and L-leucine (SH-Leu) which are subunits of certain collagenase sensitive synthetic peptides, were explored for their potential for in-situ biomaterial formation via the thiol Michael-type reaction. In model reactions were investigated the kinetics, the specificity and influence of stereochemistry of this reaction. We could show that only reactions involving SH-Leu yielded the expected thiol-Michael product. The inability of SH-Phe to react was attributed to the steric hindrance of the bulky phenyl group. In aqueous media, successful reaction using SH-Leu is thought to proceed via the sodium salt formed in-situ by the addition of NaOH solution, which was intented to aid the solubility of the mercapto-acid in water. Fast reaction rates and complete acrylate/maleimide conversion were only realized at pH 7.2 or higher suggesting the possible use of SH-Leu under physiological conditions for thiol Michael-type reactions. This method of in-situ formed alkali salts could be used as a fast approach to screen mercapto-acids for thio Michael-type reactions without the synthesis of their corresponding esters.}, language = {en} } @article{MazurekBudzyńskaBehlRazzaqetal.2019, author = {Mazurek-Budzyńska, Magdalena and Behl, Marc and Razzaq, Muhammad Yasar and N{\"o}chel, Ulrich and Rokicki, Gabriel and Lendlein, Andreas}, title = {Hydrolytic stability of aliphatic poly(carbonate-urea-urethane)s: Influence of hydrocarbon chain length in soft segment}, series = {Polymer Degradation and Stability}, volume = {161}, journal = {Polymer Degradation and Stability}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Oxford}, issn = {0141-3910}, pages = {283 -- 297}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Poly(carbonate-urethane)s (PCUs) exhibit improved resistance to hydrolytic degradation and in vivo stress cracking compared to poly(ester-urethane)s and their degradation leads to lower inflammation of the surrounding tissues. Therefore, PCUs are promising implant materials and are considered for devices such as artificial heart or spine implants. In this work, the hydrolytic stability of different poly(carbonate-urethane-urea)s (PCUUs) was studied under variation of the length of hydrocarbon chain (6, 9, 10, and 12 methylene units) between the carbonate linkages in the precursors. PCUUs were synthesized from isophorone diisocyanate and oligo(alkylene carbonate) diols using the moisture-cure method. The changes of sample weight, thermal and mechanical properties, morphology, as well as the degradation products after immersion in a buffer solution (PBS, pH = 7.4) for up to 10 weeks at 37 degrees C were monitored and analyzed. In addition, mechanical properties after 20 weeks (in PBS, 37 degrees C) were investigated. The gel content was determined based on swelling experiments in chloroform. Based on the DSC analysis, slight increases of melting transitions of PCUUs were observed, which were attributed to structure reorganization related to annealing at 37 degrees C rather than to the degradation of the PCUU. Tensile strength after 20 weeks of all investigated samples remained in the range of 29-39 MPa, whereas the elongation at break e(m) decreased only slightly and remained in the range between 670 and 800\%. Based on the characterization of degradation products after up to 10 weeks of immersion it was assessed that oligomers are mainly consisting of hard segments containing urea linkages, which could be assigned to hindered-urea dissociation mechanism. The investigations confirmed good resistance of PCUUs to hydrolysis. Only minor changes in the crystallinity, as well as thermal and mechanical properties were observed and depended on hydrocarbon chain length in soft segment of PCUUs. (C) 2019 Published by Elsevier Ltd.}, language = {en} } @article{BalkBehlLendlein2019, author = {Balk, Maria and Behl, Marc and Lendlein, Andreas}, title = {Quadruple-shape hydrogels}, series = {Smart materials and structures}, volume = {28}, journal = {Smart materials and structures}, number = {5}, publisher = {IOP Publ. Ltd.}, address = {Bristol}, issn = {0964-1726}, doi = {10.1088/1361-665X/ab0e91}, pages = {10}, year = {2019}, abstract = {The capability of directed movements by two subsequent shape changes could be implemented in shape-memory hydrogels by incorporation of two types of crystallizable side chains While in non-swollen polymer networks even more directed movements could be realized, the creation of multi-shape hydrogels is still a challenge. We hypothesize that a quadruple-shape effect in hydrogels can be realized, when a swelling capacity almost independent of temperature is generated, whereby directed movements could be enabled, which are not related to swelling. In this case, entropy elastic recovery could be realized by hydrophilic segments and the fixation of different macroscopic shapes by means of three semi-crystalline side chains generating temporary crosslinks. Monomethacrylated semi-crystalline oligomers were connected as side chains in a hydrophilic polymer network via radical copolymerization. Computer assisted modelling was utilized to design a demonstrator capable of complex shape shifts by creating a casting mold via 3D printing from polyvinyl alcohol. The demonstrator was obtained after copolymerization of polymer network forming components within the mold, which was subsequently dissolved in water. A thermally-induced quadruple-shape effect was realized after equilibrium swelling of the polymer network in water. Three directed movements were successfully obtained when the temperature was continuously increased from 5 degrees C to 90 degrees C with a recovery ratio of the original shape above 90\%. Hence, a thermally-induced quadruple-shape effect as new record for hydrogels was realized. Here, the temperature range for the multi-shape effect was limited by water as swelling media (0 degrees C-100 degrees C), simultaneously distinctly separated thermal transitions were required, and the overall elasticity indispensable for successive deformations was reduced as result of partially chain segment orientation induced by swelling in water. Conclusively the challenges for penta- or hexa-shape gels are the design of systems enabling higher elastic deformability and covering a larger temperature range by switching to a different solvent.}, language = {en} } @article{ZhangRudolphBenitezetal.2019, author = {Zhang, Quanchao and Rudolph, Tobias and Benitez, Alejandro J. and Gould, Oliver E. C. and Behl, Marc and Kratz, Karl and Lendlein, Andreas}, title = {Temperature-controlled reversible pore size change of electrospun fibrous shape-memory polymer actuator based meshes}, series = {Smart materials and structures}, volume = {28}, journal = {Smart materials and structures}, number = {5}, publisher = {IOP Publ. Ltd.}, address = {Bristol}, issn = {0964-1726}, doi = {10.1088/1361-665X/ab10a1}, pages = {10}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Fibrous membranes capable of dynamically responding to external stimuli are highly desirable in textiles and biomedical materials, where adaptive behavior is required to accommodate complex environmental changes. For example, the creation of fabrics with temperature-dependent moisture permeability or self-regulating membranes for air filtration is dependent on the development of materials that exhibit a reversible stimuli-responsive pore size change. Here, by imbuing covalently crosslinked poly(ε-caprolactone) (cPCL) fibrous meshes with a reversible bidirectional shape-memory polymer actuation (rbSMPA) we create a material capable of temperature-controlled changes in porosity. Cyclic thermomechanical testing was used to characterize the mechanical properties of the meshes, which were composed of randomly arranged microfibers with diameters of 2.3 ± 0.6 μm giving an average pore size of approx. 10 μm. When subjected to programming strains of εm = 300\% and 100\% reversible strain changes of εʹrev = 22\% ± 1\% and 6\% ± 1\% were measured, with switching temperature ranges of 10 °C-30 °C and 45 °C-60 °C for heating and cooling, respectively. The rbSMPA of cPCL fibrous meshes generated a microscale reversible pore size change of 11\% ± 3\% (an average of 1.5 ± 0.6 μm), as measured by scanning electron microscopy. The incorporation of a two-way shape-memory actuation capability into fibrous meshes is anticipated to advance the development and application of smart membrane materials, creating commercially viable textiles and devices with enhanced performance and novel functionality.}, language = {en} } @article{ZhangBehlPengetal.2019, author = {Zhang, Pengfei and Behl, Marc and Peng, Xingzhou and Balk, Maria and Lendlein, Andreas}, title = {Chemoresponsive Shape-Memory Effect of Rhodium-Phosphine Coordination Polymer Networks}, series = {Chemistry of materials : a publication of the American Chemical Society}, volume = {31}, journal = {Chemistry of materials : a publication of the American Chemical Society}, number = {15}, publisher = {American Chemical Society}, address = {Washington}, issn = {0897-4756}, doi = {10.1021/acs.chemmater.9b00363}, pages = {5402 -- 5407}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Chemoresponsive polymers are of technological significance for smart sensors or systems capable of molecular recognition. An important key requirement for these applications is the material's structural integrity after stimulation. We explored whether covalently cross-linked metal ion-phosphine coordination polymers (MPN) can be shaped into any temporary shape and are capable of recovering from this upon chemoresponsive exposure to triphenylphosphine (Ph3P) ligands, whereas the MPN provide structural integrity. Depending on the metal-ion concentration used during synthesis of the MPN, the degree of swelling of the coordination polymer networks could be adjusted. Once the MPN was immersed into Ph3P solution, the reversible ligand-exchange reaction between the metal ions and the free Ph3P in solution causes a decrease of the coordination cross-link density in MPN again. The Ph3P-treated MPN was able to maintain its original shape, indicating a certain stability of shape even after stimulation. In this way, chemoresponsive control of the elastic properties (increase in volume and decrease of mechanical strength) of the MPN was demonstrated. This remarkable behavior motivated us to explore whether the MPN are capable of a chemoresponsive shape-memory effect. In initial experiments, shape fixity of around 60\% and shape recovery of almost 90\% were achieved when the MPN was exposed to Ph3P in case of rhodium. Potential applications for chemoresponsive shape-memory systems could be shapable semiconductors, e.g., for lighting or catalysts, which provide catalytic activity on demand.}, language = {en} }